1922

– The brothers go their separate ways. Eugen Mayer founds his own company, Eugen Mayer. Josef Mayer continues to run Mechanische Trikotwarenfabrik Gebr. Mayer KG as sole owner with 25 employees.

1923

– Five years after its foundation, the company already employs more than 100 workers and seamstresses. As the local labour market had been exhausted and demand for underwear was rising, additional branches were established in the surrounding area. A first new building in Burladingen, including a bleaching facility with drying machine, is also constructed.

1925

– The company's continued growth requires additional production space. The old factory building in Burladingen is extended by one storey.

1926

– A branch is established in Steinhilben.

1927

– Branches are established in Trochtelfingen and Rangendingen.

1930

– Josef Mayer had developed the knitwear factories into a successful large-scale company with 267 employees within a short period of time.

1931

– Spacious production buildings with a bleaching plant, dyeing facility and a steam boiler system with generator are built in Burladingen. This system makes the company largely independent of the public electricity supply. Even at that time, the company had state-of-the-art machinery and worked according to highly efficient methods.

1937

– On 1 July, the Hermann Levy company in Hechingen passes into the ownership of Gebr. Mayer KG for 196,000 Reichsmarks, far below its value. The Jewish owners of the company had previously been put under pressure by the Nazi state and organisations in its sphere of influence, including financial institutions. In 1952, a settlement including compensation is reached with Alicy Levy from the Jewish owner family.

1938

– Josef Mayer's son-in-law, lawyer Dr jur. Franz Grupp, joins the company and soon assumes important management responsibilities.

1941/1942

– Another Gebr. Mayer KG branch is established in Steinhilben (Gammertinger Straße), not far from the Trochtelfingen branch.

1945

– The dismantling of the modern machinery after the end of the war causes enormous losses. Turnover falls by more than 90 percent in the year the war ends, to just 330,000 Reichsmarks.

1946

– Production of underwear is gradually resumed.

1948

– The currency reform leads to a renewed increase in turnover to more than 2 million Reichsmarks. The number of employees rises to 426, including 66 employees in Hechingen.

1949

– The number of employees rises to 660, including 120 employees in Hechingen. In the anniversary year, the company also receives a new administration building and additional production facilities.

1950

– Improved social benefits for employees follow in the form of a company health insurance fund and an occupational medical practice.

1951

– The company receives a new boiler house.

1952

– On 24 September, Alice Levy and Gebr. Mayer KG agree on a settlement. Gebr. Mayer KG pays her DM 40,000. The settlement becomes legally binding on 17 January 1953. With 960 employees, 20% of all people employed in the Hohenzollern textile industry work for Mechanische Trikotwarenfabriken Gebr. Mayer KG. The company produces 4% of all knitwear manufactured in West Germany.

1956

– On 30 November, senior managing director and company founder Josef Mayer passes away. Only a few months earlier, he had been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, 1st Class. He leaves behind a company that he had built to considerable size through tireless hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. Representatives from politics, business and culture attend the funeral. The entire workforce and citizens of Burladingen bid farewell to the popular entrepreneur.

1957

– Management is taken over by his son-in-law Dr jur. Franz Grupp. He is supported by Director Graf, who had joined the company as a commercial apprentice in its founding year of 1919.

1958

– The subsidiary Plastro Mayer is founded.

1959

– As the labour market was once again exhausted, branches are established in Altshausen and Krauchenwies. New buildings for the Ringingen and Trochtelfingen branches are occupied.

1961

– The company now operates ten branches. The main plant in Burladingen is expanded and modernised.

1967

– A stagnating underwear market prompts Mechanische Trikotwarenfabriken Gebr. Mayer KG to expand its product range to include high-quality womenswear. The company then signs tennis star Wilhelm Bungert for its first trigema tennis collection. This product segment is established under the brand names trigema-Original-Bungert-Dress and trigema-Weekend leisurewear.

1969

– The company celebrates its 50th anniversary with 1,000 employees as well as the employees of its subsidiary Plastro Mayer. Shortly afterwards, Consul Dr Franz Grupp is awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, 1st Class.

Graduate businessman Wolfgang Grupp takes over management from his father, Dr Franz Grupp. Alongside jeans, the T-shirt becomes a symbol of youth fashion. Wolfgang Grupp embraces the trend and successfully begins a new phase for the company. He establishes the T-shirt and tenniswear division under the trigema brand name. Through his restructuring, Wolfgang Grupp transforms the traditional knitwear factory into a production site for modern leisurewear. To implement new ideas creatively, he establishes a design department. When Wolfgang Grupp takes over management after completing his business studies, the company is still highly diversified and heavily indebted. Following the example of his successful grandfather, he returns to the company's roots and ends the excessive diversification.

1973 – 1977

– Existing buildings are modernised and new buildings added. The open-plan office in Burladingen is completed and the finishing department expanded. The trigema sports and leisure centre in Burladingen and the garment production plant in Altshausen are built.

1975

– Wolfgang Grupp increases turnover to 28.1 million and repays the company's previous debts in full. From 1975 onwards, trigema is Germany's largest manufacturer of sports and leisurewear.

1979

– trigema enters football shirt sponsorship in the Bundesliga with FC Schalke 04. This marks the beginning of almost two decades of cooperation with various clubs, characterised by several records to this day.

1981 – 1992

– Further extensions and new buildings are added to the finishing, cutting and printing departments in Burladingen as well as to the garment production plant in Altshausen. Company-owned public filling stations are built at the Burladingen, Altshausen and Rangendingen sites and are continuously adapted to the latest environmental regulations.

1984

– The first Test Store opens in Missen-Wilhams in the Allgäu region. As the Test Store network expands in the following years, 21 purpose-built Test Stores are added up to the present day. The total number of Test Stores in Germany, most of which are located in holiday destinations and near motorways, rises to 45.

1987

– A new boiler house is built and the company switches from oil to gas, with 100% self-generated electricity.

1990

– The trigema monkey Charly appears for the first time as an advertising character in a TV commercial shown on Saturdays before Sportschau.

1992

– The trigema monkey receives its well-known advertising slot in the minute before the Tagesschau news programme, where it can still be seen today.

1993

– Construction of the new garment production plant in Rangendingen is completed.

1995

– Wolfgang Grupp receives the „Auge mit Durchblick“ award for the „best management idea“ on Hessischer Rundfunk's television programme „IPSO“.

1997

– trigema becomes the first company to feature its own large-scale advertising design on commercial aircraft. A true pioneering achievement!

1998

– Wolfgang Grupp is awarded the Staufer Medal in Gold by Minister-President Erwin Teufel for his services to the state of Baden-Württemberg.

1998

– Completion of the new garment production and cutting facilities at the main plant in Burladingen.

2002

– On the occasion of his 60th birthday, Wolfgang Grupp is awarded the Ring of Honour of the City of Burladingen for his services to his home town. In recognition of trigema founder Josef Mayer, Hechinger Straße in Burladingen is renamed „Josef-Mayer-Straße“.

1998 – 2002

– The garment production facilities and Test Store in Burladingen are newly built.

2004

– trigema enters the online sector with its own online shop. Wolfgang Grupp receives the Max Kehren Medal from the Association of German Textile Finishing Specialists for his responsible commitment to the German textile industry and Germany as a production location.

2005

– The first trigema shop opens at Stuttgart Airport. In the same year, the then Minister of Economic Affairs Ernst Pfister awards Wolfgang Grupp the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon. Wolfgang Grupp also receives the Cicero Speaker Award 2005 from Verlag für Deutsche Wirtschaft AG for exceptional speaking performance in the business category.

2006

– In cooperation with the EPEA environmental institute, the company develops a T-shirt according to the Cradle to Cradle® principle in 2006.

2008

– trigema installs photovoltaic systems on its own roofs to generate electricity for its own use.

2010

– The Cradle-to-Cradle® T-shirt is exhibited in the German Pavilion „Balancity – City in Balance“ at the Expo in Shanghai. Employees at the pavilion also wear these trigema Cradle-to-Cradle®-shirts, which are buried on the Expo grounds at the end of the exhibition – in keeping with the Cradle-to-Cradle®-principle. Since then, the clothing line made from 100% organic cotton has been expanded under the name trigema Change.

2012

– The new trigema Change collection is presented at Greenfashion Week in Berlin, among other events. Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann honours Wolfgang Grupp with the Grand Staufer Medal in Gold for his services to Baden-Württemberg as a business location. On the occasion of his 70th birthday, he is also made an honorary citizen of the City of Burladingen in the same year.

2013

– The next generation begins working in the company. After completing their master's degrees at the London School of Economics, Bonita Grupp (E-Commerce) and Wolfgang Grupp Jr (Sales) join the family business.

2014

– The flagship store at Stuttgart Airport is redesigned. A few months later, the first trigema flagship store in Berlin follows, located in the Mall of Berlin at Leipziger Platz. The online shop is relaunched. On 14 November 2014, trigema receives the Cradle-to-Cradle® Products Innovator Award 2014 in New York as the only company from Germany.

2015

– trigema also begins advertising on private television with a new commercial. The aim of the new TV commercial is to place greater focus on the products trigema manufactures, using its popular polo shirt as an example.

2016

– In May, a new trigema advertising ambassador takes to the skies for the first time. The trigema airship Charly makes its maiden flight on 21 May 2016 on the occasion of the DFB Cup Final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

2017

– The online shop is redesigned and is now optimised for all devices through responsive implementation. As trigema expands online retail through its own online shop at www.trigema.de and through a number of partner shops, the company also increasingly focuses on online marketing. Through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest, as well as its own company blog, trigema is now also present in the online world.

2018 – 2019

– The finishing department in Burladingen is extended to provide additional fabric storage, and a dyeing machine as well as a washing and bleaching system are put into operation.
Digitalisation also advances in the garment production department. Tablets are used to monitor and analyse various work processes, allowing process improvements to be implemented in the right areas.

– The trigema monkey Charly makes his comeback as a digital advertising character and can now be seen on television as an animated 3D version.

On 26 October of the anniversary year, the company celebrates its 100th anniversary with 1,200 employees, friends and politicians. That evening, Wolfgang Grupp is awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, 1st Class, for his outstanding achievements and the gold service pin for 50 years with the company. He expresses particular gratitude to his employees, without whom he says his achievements would never have been possible.

2020

– The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic causes shortages of protective clothing in various facilities. trigema Test Stores are temporarily closed, resulting in a loss of 60% of revenue. Owner Wolfgang Grupp guarantees all jobs despite the difficult circumstances. There is neither short-time working nor redundancies. At the request of hospitals and care homes, the company quickly switches production to reusable makeshift mouth-and-nose masks and protective gowns. Germany as a production location offers considerable advantages in terms of delivery times, which enables 2.3 million masks to be produced within four months.

– In late autumn, demolition of an old company building begins. It is to make way for a future employee park.

– Opening of the trigema Test Store in Rheinbreitbach.

– Fast-charging stations for electric cars are installed at 21 Test Store locations.

2021

– The trigema Test Store in Weitnau is modernised. Due to lockdowns, the textile industry experiences difficulties selling 500 million manufactured garments and destroys the new goods. The overproduction and destruction cause widespread concern. Germany as a production location therefore once again receives considerable support. In March, bricks-and-mortar retail is allowed to reopen. In a market dominated by overconsumption, trigema remains consistent in its values. 100% quality, 100% Made in Germany.

2022

– In February, Russia attacks Ukraine and war breaks out in Europe. This results in an energy crisis that is also clearly felt at trigema. A new energy concept is therefore developed. Production is adjusted but continues under restricted production conditions. Energy-intensive colours such as turquoise are removed from the range.

– The Weitnau Test Store is modernised.

– The employee park now has a 5,500 sqm green space.

2023

– trigema enters new territory and launches a collaboration with streetwear brand Live Fast Die Young. The joint collection consists of 13 items distinguished by Made in Germany production.

– Together with the Hohenstein Institute, trigema develops a test method for measuring the release of microplastics during washing, which is also used to optimise the company's own sports range.

– A 100 sqm terrace is added to the employee park, providing a green space for lunch breaks.

– Five bee colonies have called trigema home since May 2023. The resulting honey is sold at the Burladingen Test Store under the Made in Germany quality label.

– From summer 2023, a Xetma raising machine makes trigema even more self-sufficient, allowing soft and warm fabrics such as fleece to be raised in-house.

– Due to persistently high energy prices, an energy plan for the future is developed. Among other measures, it provides for further investment of EUR 800,000 in the expansion of solar power at the main plant in Burladingen. All lighting at the main plant will also be converted to LED by 2025. A mobile gas boiler is installed as a backup for future conversion work.

– The Test Stores in Frechen, Bad Fredeburg and Wehr are modernised.

– At the end of the year, the Test Store in Bispingen opens and the shop design is renewed.

2024

– The roofs of the main plant in Burladingen are renovated. The photovoltaic system is expanded by 2,174 modules and now generates approximately 920,000 kWh per year.

– The project to create a new energy centre in Burladingen begins.

– In cooperation with the manufacturer, our old Thenflow dyeing machine is rebuilt as a custom model according to our requirements. Newer technology is used for the pumps and heat exchangers.

– In autumn 2024, we receive a new Brückner dryer featuring newer technology and direct heating via the burner. One drying zone can also be heated electrically as a hybrid solution, while additional drying zones can be converted to hybrid operation.

– The Test Stores in Oberau, Arnbruck and Mettlach are modernised.

– Our new trigema Test Store in Leipzig opens in October 2024.

– As part of an advertising campaign on television and social media, the trigema monkey Charly takes on a new role as a fashion influencer.

- After 54 years, Wolfgang Grupp Sr steps down from management and hands responsibility for the company to his son Wolfgang Grupp Jr, his daughter Bonita Grupp and his wife Elisabeth Grupp.

- The philosophy and values that trigema has represented as a family-owned company for more than 100 years will continue to form the basis of management's day-to-day actions.

- Successors Bonita and Wolfgang Grupp reposition the trigema brand. With a new corporate identity strategy and a redesign of the corporate design, trigema launches its new brand identity. As part of an advertising campaign on television and social media, the trigema monkey Charly takes on his new role as a fashion influencer.

– Modernisation of the Test Stores in Mainaschaff, Bad Griesbach and Parsdorf.

- For the first time, trigema opens its doors to everyone interested. 2,000 visitors experience trigema up close through production tours and informative discussions. Two embroidery machines in the Test Store enable personalised embroidery on site.

- Launch of the new TV commercial featuring Charly as a fashion influencer. Core message: When it comes to quality, style and attitude, he takes a clear stand.

- Collaborations with various companies, including V-Lace Sneaker and a Pilates sports collection for Josef P.

- Launch of the new shipping system. Another clear step towards digital, optimised order picking. Processes have been accelerated by 50%.