Industry

We were already there during the 19th century when the development of the cotton industry put Málaga on the textile map, thanks to the advancements made throughout the province, transforming it into a key sector of the Industrial Revolution, second only to Barcelona nationally.

Likewise, in the 20th century, Málaga’s textile sector boasted large, renowned companies that made this activity a vital part of the province’s industrial fabric.

However, during the 1950s, the industry suffered a decline that was eventually resolved with the creation of the public company Industrias Textiles de Guadalhorce (Intelhorce) in 1957. Considered Málaga’s largest factory, Intelhorce occupied a plot of 322,233 square meters. By 1972, it had 25,000 spindles in operation. In 1975, it employed more than 3,200 workers and produced up to 80 million meters of fabric. In 1992, after years of crisis and losses, the company declared bankruptcy, but survived until the European textile crisis led to its closure and subsequent sale in 2004.

Another historical example is Mayoral, the pioneering children’s fashion company from Malaga, whose origins date back to 1942 and which today has a presence in more than 100 countries.

Currently, companies like Arggido, Carla Ruiz, and Shamat, among others, are making a name for themselves internationally.