About us
With over 75 years of experience, we are market leaders in developing and manufacturing circular knitted fabrics.
We have always based our decisions on the values we value most—Dedication to Work, Trust, Transparency, and Social Responsibility—combined with our focus on Technology, Innovation, Know-How, Flexibility, and Sustainability. The blend of all these factors distinctively marks the essence of our business model and A. Sampaio’s path in the national and international textile industry.
We know how to anticipate customer needs and offer the correct solution, from essential fabrics to developments with increasingly innovative and complex structures and raw materials, crossing all creative boundaries.
At A. Sampaio, we pride ourselves on building relationships based on Trust and Transparency. These relationships underpin our company’s and all partners’ success in an economy that increasingly wants to be circular. We create value while respecting the ecosystem and everyone’s future.
HISTORY
The family’s impact on A. Sampaio’s history
With over seven decades of history, the family marks A. Sampaio’s past, present and future.
Our company belongs to the Portuguese textile industry and is located in Santo Tirso, Vale do Ave, a region with a strong tradition in the sector. With a life dedicated to drawing and sketching, our founder applied his know-how to a company with his name.
This was the tradition in Vale do Ave – it was those who knew, with a lifetime of experience, who took on the challenge of seeing their name on the front of a new textile factory. Thus, on June 5th 1947, A Têxtil de Santo Tirso de António Oliveira Sampaio was born.
In our early days, we dedicated to manufacturing and selling canvas and poplin, consolidating our presence in the national textile sector.
In the ’60s, we took our first steps in circular knitting. Our founder’s years of work, dedication and commitment gained momentum with the entry of the 2nd Generation of the family into the company efforts in 1964. Thus, the transfer of this family project to the founder’s daughters and sons-in-law began.
The 2nd Generation worked closely with the founder; their hard work remains key to our company’s success. As such, the contribution of these family members deserves full recognition. Later, the 2nd Generation was also responsible for integrating the 3rd Generation family members into the company.
With 25 years of experience (1972), we invested exclusively in manufacturing circular fabrics. Furthermore, we became a limited liability company, assuming a new corporate name—A Têxtil de Santo Tirso de A. Sampaio & Filhos, Lda.
The 70s were also marked by the arrival of the last member of the 2nd Generation of the family in 1973.
In 1984, we moved locations and expanded to the facilities we currently operate.
In the 90s, and remaining at the forefront of the national sector, we were one of the first national companies to adhere to the ISO 9001 quality certification. We won our first distinctions and strengthened our presence in the international textile market by launching our collections.
We continued to expand our facilities and, to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 1997, we inaugurated a showroom dedicated to the memory of our founder. This decade also opened a new chapter in the history of A. Sampaio and welcomed the first members of the 3rd Generation of the family from 1992 onwards.
In 2002, we became a public limited company and took on our current name: A. Sampaio & Filhos – Têxteis, S.A. We obtained new company and product certifications and began participating in international fairs.
In the first years of the new century, the family’s last member of the 3rd Generation was welcomed in 2006. We solidified our sustainability strategy and launched, in 2008, a pioneering line of fabrics with ecological fibres and production processes – Pure Life.
With our know-how, we have developed an extensive portfolio of technical fabrics over the years. In 2013, the registered brand Protection+ by A. Sampaio was born, in which we offer solutions for the textile market of professional and personal protective clothing.
In 2017, we celebrated 70 years of commitment and perseverance with the entire A. Sampaio team.
Shortly before celebrating 75 years of history (2022), we welcomed the family’s first member of the 4th Generation. With over seven decades of experience, we are market leaders in developing and manufacturing circular knits.
The company remains entirely family-owned and managed, pursuing the same spirit towards the future.
Mission
We exist to create value for all stakeholders through our products and services, which are based on our principles of rigorous quality, sustainability, innovation, and creativity.
We are strongly committed to our role in social responsibility and ensure our workers have a work environment appropriate for their safety and professional development.
We reconcile economic development with environmental performance, aware of the importance of adopting sustainable practices.
At A. Sampaio, we know how to anticipate the future. We work to remain at the forefront of the national and international textile industry. We want to continue to see our products and services distinguished by innovation and quality and our company’s name respected by recognising our principles of rigour, business ethics, and social and environmental responsibility.
We are proud of our founder and his legacy, which we want to pass on to future generations.
