Can Marfà Knit Fabric: Museum of Mataró

The Marfà knitted textile factory at Mataró on the coast east of Barcelona was built in 1880-1 by Gaietà Marfà i Baladia, who came from a local family of hosiers. It integrated all the processes from spinning to dressmaking. With 22 sets of circular looms and two steam engines, the factory employed 1,500 people. It was known for its high-quality products made for Oso underwear and Fred Perry sportswear. The factory closed in the late 1980s. In 2010, work began to create a new museum as part of Mataró Museum with MNACTEC, the Museums of Science and Technology of Catalunya. The two three-storey buildings are linked by original footbridges. The first-floor galleries show the production of knitted fabric with examples of looms and other machinery and explain the history of the industry since the eighteenth century. The second floor shows the museum’s rich textile and clothing collections.