The architectural complex of the Marfà Factory, declared a Cultural Asset of Local Interest, is made up of two spaces built in 1880 and 1881 in the “Manchester” style, on the initiative of Gaietà Marfà i Baladia, son and grandson of hosiers based in Mataró since the early 19th century.
In the late 19th century, the Marfà factory incorporated all the manufacturing processes, from spinning to dressmaking, finishes and adornment. It had 22 sets of circular looms and two 100 hP steam engines. Until the first quarter of the 20th century its siren acted as the “clock” which set the city’s pace. It was the most important knitting factory in Spain, both in terms of the number of workers (around 1,500) and the volume and quality of its production: hosiery and undergarments, especially velvet, which it commercialised both at home and abroad.
During its long trajectory it sold its products under different brands, including Oso for undergarments and Fred Perry for sports clothing. The textile crisis of the 1970s and 80s left the factory in a delicate situation, prompting the Marfà family to retire in 1984. The workers set up a worker-owned company which was dissolved three years later and led to the definitive closure of the factory. Shortly afterwards the building became municipal property. In 2010 work began on its rehabilitation to adapt it as an extension of Mataró Museum, showcasing the city’s industrial past.