The Company
Company history
With the union, the global calling of the company with the experience and tradition acquired through evolution that Tavex and Santista had developed independently in each of the local markets where they operated until the time of the merger.
Tavex
1846
The creation of ‘Fábrica de Hilados, Tejidos y Estampados de Bergara’ (Guipúzcoa, Spain), specialized in Indian and other cotton fabrics, using the indigo dye since the beginning.
1901
The company changed its name to 'Algodonera San Antonio, SA' adapting it to the new Law of Corporations and became specialized in fabrics for labor and military use.
1970
It takes the strategic decision to focus its denim production to invest in the first rope dyeing machine in Spain.
1989
Tavex begins to trade on the Continuous Market of the Madrid Stock Exchange, Bilbao y Valencia as the largest denim manufacturer in Spain.
It bought two denim factories in Alginet and Navarrés (Valencia, Spain).
1990
It built a new factory in Settat (Morocco) positioning the company as the largest producer of denim in Europe. In parallel, it continued investing in its plants, adapting them to the changing market needs, making their production flexible, drastically changing its product mix toward exclusively differentiated, value-added items, and competing in all sectors of the sportswear and the work fabric markets.
1998
Continuing its diversification plan, it acquired 33.33% of company SA Sanpere, dedicated to the production and marketing of fabrics for home decor. A year later, it took control of the company acquiring new 33.33%
1999
It invests in a new dyeing and finishing plant for sportswear fabrics in Settat (Morocco).
2002
Through its Mexican subsidiary, Tavemex, it purchased the industrial assets of company Industria Textil de Puebla, engaged in the manufacture of denim in order to position themselves in the Mexican market and use it as a platform for natural access to the American market.
2003
It acquired up to 100% of SA Sanpere, head of the fabric division of Home and Decoration.
Santista
1929
The creation of Santista Textil (São Paulo, Brazil) through the purchase of a small weaving company specialized in the production of raw and dyed cotton.
1934
The construction of the Belenzinho Factory (São Paulo, Brazil).
1948
The construction of the Osasco Factory (Brazil).
1956
The production of professional fabrics begins.
1967
The initiation of the project for the installation of the first factory of the company outside São Paulo, located in Pernambuco (Brazil).
1970
Denim has become the main focus of the business, a strategic decision.
1975
Santista starts the production of denim fabric in Brazil.
1994
The merger of Alpargatas and Santista Textil. Opening of capital.
1995
The acquisition of Grafa, a subsidiary of Bunge in Argentina, consolidating the position of Santista in South America.
1999
The acquisition of Machasa, transforming itself into the largest textile industrial park in South America and the first Brazilian multinational in the sector.
2003
Camargo Corrêa Group takes shareholder control of hand Santista Têxtil of São Paulo Alpargatas.
2006
The merger of Tavex Algodonera and Santista Têxtil. The world leader in denim was born.
2007
In August 2007, it bought two plants in Mexican cities of Puebla and Tlaxcala, with a production capacity of 30 million meters of fabric, completing the delivery platform to the U.S., the largest consumer of denim in the world.