ABOUT GREIFF
A success story – since 1802
From the founding of the company to one of the leading manufacturers of workwear – accompany us through more than 200 years of eventful GREIFF history.
The worldwide Corona pandemic challenges GREIFF's flexibility once again. The company rises to the challenge and launches a new collection, GREIFF CARE. And once again GREIFF proves its innovative strength: GREIFF CARE is the first 'Grüner Knopf' certified care garment on the market.
Sustainability has long been an issue for GREIFF internally - in 2014, the commitment also becomes more visible externally: together with other companies, GREIFF founds the MaxTex association. In the same year, the first product is certified with the OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
After the turn of the millennium, GREIFF sharpens its portfolio: sports and leisurewear has to go, the workwear lines are specified. Since 2004, the company has been concentrating on the service industry, gastronomy and the hotel industry.
With its main factory in Bamberg and further specialized factories in Würzburg and Laufach near Aschaffenburg, as well as its own sales companies in London, Paris and Vienna, GREIFF is one of the most important manufacturers of men's outerwear in Germany and Europe.
However, the 1980s also brought a low point for GREIFF-WERKE. Loss-making years result in restructuring measures, a reduction in the workforce and the start of the relocation of production abroad.
GREIFF-WERKE celebrates its breakthrough into the top group of the menswear industry - thanks to the youthful "modèle JEUNESSE" program. In the same year, exports to Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland begin.
In 1963, GREIFF-WERKE AG employs more than 2,000 people in three factories specializing in the individual production branches: Men's and boys' outerwear (Haka for short) was produced at the main plant in Bamberg, fashionable sports and leisurewear in Aalen, and workwear in Würzburg.
The newly built main factory in Memmelsdorfer Strasse in Bamberg was occupied by 98 employees.
The management at the time recognizes the importance of advertising and begins a promotional campaign to impress the GREIFF brand name on all textile retailers. In the trade press, GREIFF is quickly associated with good goods.
On October 1, 1933, the company is renamed GREIFF-WERKE AG, as sales of GREIFF clothing increase from year to year. From now on, the blueprint goods are outsourced to a separate company. In addition, the 1930s are marked by further developments:
- In addition to high quality, "prompt delivery" becomes the second characteristic of the GREIFF brand - a service first used in the clothing industry.
- Production is expanded to large-scale industrial production through the introduction of the assembly line system, and branch plants are opened in Lauban, Frankfurt/Oder, Lomnitz, Löwenberg, Bärnsdorf. Through the participation of the managing director, Dr. Winkler, in the Lauffenmühle spinning and weaving mill in Tiengen/Baden, the entire manufacturing process from fiber to finished part can be handled virtually in-house.
The company was renamed "Schlesische Blaudruckerei AG". The focus of production is now on blueprint piece goods and other color prints. Blueprint aprons in particular are very popular at this time.
