Piraiki-Patraiki: The history of Greece's largest textile manufacturer

Piraiki-Patraiki, once Greece's largest textile company, is marking 30 years since the formal end of its restructuring efforts in 1996. The company's history is closely tied to the broader trend of deindustrialization in Greece.

Founded in Patras in 1919 by Christoforos Katsambas and Stamoulis Stratos, the firm began as the 'Patraiki Commercial-Industrial Company.' Originally focused on sock manufacturing and thread dyeing, the founders aimed to produce high-quality fabrics and cotton products comparable to imports. The company became a major employer and a household name, known for durable products that have persisted through generations.