Elanco » Manufacturers of Menswear

Elanco is a modern family clothing manufacturing company in Aarsele in West Flanders (Belgium). It is the only company of its kind, as it specialises in uniform shirts and blouses. It has developed a unique body of know-how, thanks to continuous technical innovation and the wealth of experience accrued since its foundation in 1945. Manufacturing shirts and blouses is the main activity and every part of the process takes place on their own grounds, which is practically unique in the Benelux.

Everything, from the initial design and the manufacture using high-quality materials from Europe, up until the finishing details and dispatch of the finished clothing, takes place in Elanco’s own buildings in Aarsele. The fact that Elanco has been awarded quality and environmental labels “ISO 9001” and “Öko-tex Standard 100” is proof of their excellent standards. We would like to welcome you to this website and tell you more about our company and its products.

HISTORY
It all began in November 1945 with just one sewing machine in the kitchen of husband and wife team, Florent De Corte and Anna Cobbaut. The company “De Corte-Cobbaut” was born and the clothes bore the brand name “La Samaritaine”. In the early years, the company made so-called “linen ware” an umbrella term that included shirts and pyjamas. It was not long before the first employees were recruited.

In 1948, they moved to a new building at their current location, which has since been expanded several times.

At the end of the 1950s, the company decided to specialise in uniform shirts. The one-man firm, which by then had 25 employees, expanded to become a company with limited liability, and adopted its current name, “Elanco Confectiebedrijven”. Hedwige De Corte took over her parents’ business in 1982, together with her husband, Aimé Haenebalcke. The company continued to thrive and expand both technically and commercially. Elanco Confectiebedrijven became a public limited company in 1989. The firm has been led by their children, Peter and Liesbeth Haenebalcke since 1999. The one-man business of yesteryear now has more than 50 employees who strive to deliver top-quality shirts and blouses every day.