Meyer has specialised in men’s trousers since 1960, combining carefully developed fits with detailed construction and its own European production. For customers, that means there is more behind a pair of Meyer trousers than the cloth and colour: the brand places particular emphasis on how the trousers are cut, assembled, checked and sourced.
At Livingston, we stock Meyer because the range gives customers clear choices in fit, fabric and purpose, from everyday chinos to smarter wool-blend trousers and performance-led ACTIVE styles. You can browse our current Meyer trousers while this guide explains the production and sustainability information behind the brand.
Where are Meyer trousers made?
Meyer is a family business founded in Germany in 1960. The company says its trousers are made at its own European production facilities, with production based in Târgu Secuiesc in Transylvania, Romania, since the 1990s.
Owning the production process gives Meyer direct oversight of quality, social standards and environmental standards. The company describes regular checks after individual production stages, with cutting, sewing, washing and ironing inspected before a final quality check takes place.
Meyer also carries out shrinkage testing because different fabrics behave differently when washed. That matters for something as practical as trouser fit: the aim is for a carefully developed cut to retain its intended shape after normal care.
How much work goes into a pair of Meyer trousers?
A pair of trousers may look straightforward from the outside, but Meyer describes a typical pair as using around 60 cut pieces of cloth, roughly 380 metres of yarn and a number of additional components such as buttons and zips. Many production stages are completed by hand.
The brand refers to its finishing as semi-sartorial, drawing on details associated with traditional tailoring. Depending on the style, that can include carefully finished waistbands, patterned internal linings, refined pocket construction and concealed security pockets. These details are one of the reasons Meyer trousers often feel more engineered than a basic pair of chinos.
Organic cotton and Meyer trousers
Cotton is central to the Meyer range. Meyer says it switched its cotton sourcing to organic cotton in 2020. The company links that decision to lower use of water, energy and chemicals compared with its previous conventional-cotton production, as well as avoiding harmful pesticides.
That does not mean every pair of Meyer trousers has the same fabric composition. Some Livingston styles use organic cotton with elastane, others use Fairtrade-certified cotton, wool blends or technical fabrics. The exact composition and certification should therefore be checked on the individual product rather than assumed across the whole range.
What do GOTS, MADE IN GREEN and Fairtrade mean in the Meyer range?
Meyer’s current sustainability information highlights several certification systems. The company is GOTS certified, with the Global Organic Textile Standard covering environmental and social criteria through the textile supply chain. Meyer also uses MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®, which combines testing for harmful substances with supply-chain traceability.
Fairtrade is also important within parts of the range. Meyer is authorised to manufacture and sell trousers carrying the Fairtrade Cotton seal, and current Roma Fairtrade styles use Fairtrade-certified cotton. Fairtrade certification includes labour standards, minimum-price mechanisms for growers and requirements around longer-term trading relationships.
These labels should still be treated at product level. A Meyer trouser should only be described as GOTS, Fairtrade or MADE IN GREEN where that claim is supported for the exact style. That keeps the useful sustainability information precise rather than turning it into a blanket claim.
Wool, recycled fibres and other material choices
Meyer says its wool trousers use 100% mulesing-free new wool. The company also uses recycled fibres in selected technical fabrics and makes smaller material choices elsewhere in the range, including cork in place of leather for M|5 labels and alternatives such as walnut wood, metal or high-quality plastic instead of horn buttons.
The ACTIVE range takes a more performance-led approach. Depending on the style, it can combine organic cotton, recycled technical fibres, high-stretch fabrics and Meyer’s Flex waistband. The emphasis is on movement and practical wear while keeping a trouser smart enough for everyday use.
Durability is part of Meyer’s sustainability approach
Meyer’s own sustainability position starts with product life: a well-made pair of trousers that continues to fit and wear well should need replacing less quickly. That is why its sustainability information is closely tied to fabric testing, production control and final inspection rather than being presented only as a question of fibre choice.
The company also says that most of the additional components used in its trousers, including buttons, yarns and zips, are sourced from Europe, with natural or recycled materials used in some cases.
Understanding Meyer fits: Slim, Modern and Comfort
Meyer currently groups its main trouser fits into three families: Slim Fit, Modern Fit and Comfort Fit. This is useful because the model name tells you more than simply choosing a waist and leg length.
- Slim Fit: the closest-fitting Meyer option, with models such as Tokyo aimed at a narrower silhouette.
- Modern Fit: a balanced contemporary shape used by models including Bonn, Oslo and New York.
- Comfort Fit: more room around the waistband, seat and thighs, with Roma among Meyer’s principal Comfort Fit models.
The Roma is especially useful for customers who want additional room and freedom of movement without a trouser looking excessively wide. Meyer positions it as a polished Comfort Fit suitable for business and smart-casual wear as well as everyday use.
If you are deciding between two of our most popular Meyer shapes, read our Meyer Roma vs New York fit guide. It explains the practical difference between Roma Comfort Fit and New York Modern Fit.
Meyer ACTIVE and comfort features
Meyer ACTIVE adds functional fabrics and waistband technology to the brand’s usual trouser construction. Current ACTIVE styles can include high-stretch fabrics, recycled fibres, concealed security pockets and the Flex waistband, which is designed to add movement around the waist while retaining a smart appearance.
It is worth separating the fit from the technology. A model can belong to a particular fit family while also using a comfort waistband or performance fabric. For example, Roma remains a Comfort Fit model even when a specific Roma style uses ACTIVE features.
How Livingston describes Meyer sustainability
We prefer to keep sustainability claims specific. Meyer has a substantial current programme covering European production, organic cotton, certification, material sourcing and durability, but not every claim applies to every trouser in exactly the same way.
On our product pages we therefore use the exact fabric, fit and certification information that can be verified for that style. If a pair is Fairtrade certified, GOTS certified or carries a MADE IN GREEN identifier, we can say so. If the evidence is only a wider Meyer brand policy, we keep it at brand level rather than attaching it to an individual product.
Choosing the right Meyer trousers
The best starting point is fit. Choose Roma if you want Meyer’s Comfort Fit with more room through the waistband, seat and thighs. Look at New York, Bonn or Oslo if you prefer a Modern Fit, or one of Meyer’s Slim Fit models if you want a closer outline.
From there, choose the fabric and features that suit how you will wear the trousers: cotton chinos for versatile everyday dressing, wool or wool-blend styles for smarter use, and ACTIVE fabrics where stretch and movement are a priority.
Explore our current Meyer trousers, or use the individual product pages for exact composition, fit, care and certification details.
Sources and review
Manufacturer information in this guide was reviewed against Meyer’s current production, sustainability, ACTIVE and fit information in September 2026. Product-level materials and certifications can vary by style, so the exact product record should always take priority over general brand information.
Primary manufacturer references: Meyer production and company information, Meyer sustainability information and Meyer fit guide.
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