Abraham was formed in 1878 in Zurich under the leadership of Jakob Abraham.
In 1931, Gustav Zumsteg joined Abraham as an apprentice. By 1941, he was managing Abraham's Paris subsidiary, working closely with the greatest couturiers and artists of the time.
Soon after, he was named chief designer, and in 1968 ascended to become Abraham's sole proprietor and director.
Under Gustav Zumsteg's leadership, Maison Abraham became the leading supplier of silk fabrics for Haute Couture. They were particularly favored by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Zumsteg met Yves Saint Laurent in 1957, instantly becoming close collaborators. They spoke on the phone every Sunday during their 45 year working relationship.
Their fruitful collaboration lasted until 1995, and was a vital influence on Yves Saint Laurent's body of work.
By the 90s, the decline of the Haute Couture industry was causing Abraham to lose money. Despite Zumsteg pouring some of his own fortune to save the company, Maison Abraham was forced to file bankrupcy in 2002.
