Iasitex, the intention to be forerunnerThe identity of a brand is built over time and the values promoted are those that give the measure of that identity. In this context the history of a brand seen as a major component of its identity, stability over time is one of the primary factors underlying brand values analysis. It is very difficult and time proves that for a brand to cross the long and often arduous road of history. The changes of political regime, the wars, revolutions, economic downturns, natural disasters are just some of the many attempts that old brands had to overcome. It is a great merit of these companies and of the hearty people who have linked their destiny to the lives of these brands, a proof that their victory against the "times" was one against time.Moreover, when a brand is a pioneer, the first herald of an industry, the seal a century of tradition places in the collective memory can never be forgotten.Iasitex has a merit that few companies can assume, of being the first textile factory in Romania (Old Kingdom). A history full of the stories of some people whose actions cross the memory of so many generations. The name Leo Geller (IASITEX) will not never be lost, as it is meant to remain in the history of Romanian industry, the name of the first textile factory in Romania (Old Kingdom).Iasi, in the early last century, was one of the most cosmopolitan cities of Romania. The capital of Moldova, a place of the genesis of many Romanian cultural values, thus had a significant economic activity.In the last 100 centuries of human history, people have constantly searching for practical ways to manufacture clothes. This need has become really easy to meet with the advent of cotton (1750). In the eighteenth century by introducing mechanical machines, inventions (John Kay 1733 flying shuttle, James Hargreaves 1767-turnnion ; Ricardo Arkwright 1774 motor spinner, 1775 Samuel Crompton - comber, 1785 Watt's steam engine is introduced in the cotton mills; 1787 Cartwright invent the mechanical weaving loom used in 1801). Thanks to these inventions cotton could replace cotton wool, silk and linen, traditional raw materials while marking the debut of the first industrial revolution in Europe.In this context Iasi becomes in 1900 the city hosting the first textile factory in Romania. Located on Alba Street, the factory founded by the one who became the Romanian textile industry pioneer, Leo Geller was raised only with Romanian capital.The progress of textile industry, the growing demand of the market, determined, Leo Geller in 1903 to develop the factory by attracting capital and entering the association of big Italian industrialists Giacomo Ogna (owner of the famous factories Ogna-Candiani Busto Arsizio), Galiante, Luigi Roda and Ercole de Giacomi, rentiers, as a limited partner, forming thus the limited partnership Leo Galler & CompBy the increase of the share capital and inclusion in of renowned industrialists as shareholders the factory increases its production capacity and moves into a new place, bigger and more spacious. An imposing building on the frontispiece of which they wrote Leo Geller Factory is the new location of 137 Socola Street. Located in an unprivileged area inhabited mostly by poor families of Romanian and Jewish people, the factory brings an unexpected air of prosperity to the inhabitants of that area. The large number of workers ensure by the revenues made, financial and social stability to the entire local community. The 90 looms are among the most modern equipment, and product quality is similar to that of the most famous mills in the world.In 1907 on May 28, Leo Geller, Ercole Vaizi, Giacomo Ogna, Ettore Villa, Countess Carolina Candiani Durini, Ercole Degiacomi, Jean Luca Niculescu,Comptoir Franco-Roman AG Carissy, A. Levy Strauss, Leo Geller society members representing the whole capital, decide the dissolution of the limited partnership and the establishment of a new anonymous stock company.The gross assets of over one million lei are transferred to the new company which will be named: Fabrics Factory, former Leo Geller et Comp., anonymous joint stock company. This transformation was achieved with the financial help of bank Marmorosch Blank & Co. in Bucharest. The share capital was 800,000 lei, divided into 4,000 shares of 200 lei each. Of this capital, 2,500 shares amounting to 500,000 lei were attributed to Leo Geller, the remaining 1,500 shares, in the amount 300,000 lei, were fully subscribed by the following founders:1. Marmorosch Bank, Blank & Co. 1,000 shares2. Levy Strauss 50 shares,3. R. Sopkesz 50 shares,4. Ion Luca Niculescu 50 shares,5. G Lascar 50 shares,6. B. Penescu 50 shares,7. Lascar Antoniu 50 shares8. Leo Geller 200 shares.The founders have appointed board members over a period of 4 years Messrs Ion Luca Niculescu, Leo Geller and R. Sopkesz; censors Messrs G. Lascar, C. B. Penescu and Lascar Antoniu.Add from magazine Viata Romneasca, Iasi 1909.With all the financial support received, the first fabric factory in Iasi does not resist on the market. The financial difficulties, the competition of imported products, and maybe an uninspired organization led to an unwanted bankruptcy. Thus, in 1910, the joint stock company "TESATURA" of Iasi took over all the assets thereof, composed of 400 looms, an albitorie, a rudimentary painting room and some storage planks to store goods.Partly affected by the conditions caused by the the First World War, the factory knows a sensitive development in the interwar period having in 1935 a total of 750 looms.In those times the cloth from Iasi, the marshmallow, fine chiffon and the fabrics produced by TESATURA were known and appreciated by buyers in the country and even abroad.Along with the nationalization from June 11, 1948, the factory entitled Enterprise "TESATURA Iasi, knows a new stage in its history, characterized by a strong development and modernization.Thus, in 1949, due to investments allocated by the state, the construction of a cotton spinning for carded yarns starts with an installed capacity of 20,194 spindles, equipped with a high-tech machine for its time, a goal that has been put into service in 1951, the level of production achieved being of 2,800 tons annually. In the same year the extension woks of the weaving department started, in the new hall being mounted an additional 350 looms.Six years later, as a result of the merger with factory "Victoria" (formerly Unit B), the technical potential increased by increasing the number of spindles to 27,108 and of the number of mechanical looms at 1,330.Since 1964, the weaving department was re-equipped and systematized with over 80% automated looms produced in the country and imported, achieving a production of over 90,000 square meters of fabrics in a wide range, articles of unique yarns, single dyed or in one piece for linen and clothing. In 1965 the unit configuration is completed by the construction of the worsted yarn spinning. They annually produced 4,000 tons of yarns. Modernized and re-equipped in 1967, the finishing fabrics department achieved in 1970 an annual production of 25.8 million square meters of fabric with variable colouring and a pleasant touch. In 1973 they start building the polyester and cotton yarn dye, with a capacity of 8266 thousand square meters, along with the modernization of carded yarn spinning.Since 1978, they founded a new factory activity, namely the use of coupons, developed and modernized in the coming years. Under the policy of the time in 1979 and in 1980 they set up two new structures within the company, namely the Factory of Crude Fabrics Tesatoria Tibanesti with a capacity of 10,000 square meters crude fabrics and Spinning Workshop Vigonie Vladeni, with an annual capacity of 2,000 tons of yarn. Since 1986 they conducted an extensive investment program completed in 1991, which changed the image of the factory.They expanded and modernized the weaving department by commissioning the micro-shuttle weaving machines type STB, the finishing department was reorganized and equipped with new machines, energy utility networks and wastewater pre-treatment station were modernized.Equipped with modern laboratories and a pilot plant equipped with machinery of execution and measurement of micro-samples in the global technique, the factory created a strong creative and research activity, studying and experimenting innovating technological processes, substitutes for raw materials, dyes, chemicals, and textile accessories.From a single assortment produced in 1910, they reached after 70 years, more than 50 articles in 820 colour drawings and positions. In 1985, 75% of production was exported.Since 1990, history marked again the existence of the factory.Thus, in July 1990, the units from Tibanesti and Vladeni have acquired legal personality and on December 4, 1990 based on GD no. 1254 / 12.04.1990 they established Commercial Company IASITEX SA by taking over the legally the patrimony of the former Enterprise 'TESATURA'.In the context of economic changes that followed, the company has made efforts for restructuring, financial recovery and revival of activity. In conditions of economic transition production capacities were closed, assets were utilized, the work was reorganized, with the painful consequence of dissolution of jobs. Since 1995, every year they hosted works of systematization and reorganization of technological flows, modernization of basic machinery of weaving and finishing departments, and endowment with modern machinery and equipment of the spinning and clothing department.They strongly developed the clothing activity up to the establishment of a production department equipped with simple and special sewing machines. They managed to ensure energy independence through the commissioning of a central heating system, with 2 boiler rooms of 8t / h and 10t respectively / h technological steam.All facilities and modernizations of IASITEX SA after 1990 were carried out with funds from own resources and only with the workforce existing in the unit.Simultaneously they started the action of export reorientation, the company succeeding in 1996 to affirm on the international market as a supplier of upholstery fabrics.As a result of the efforts made in 2003 the company was known as a strong unit, financially sound, integrated in terms of technology and energetically independent.On June 30, 2003 the company was privatized by the purchase of the majority stake held by A.P.A.P.S by the S.C.R. Group, the largest industrial group in Romania, whose President is PhD Economist Stefan Vuza. Since the privatization, the company followed a positive trend, this rise being the result of strategic thinking. The resizing of the share of activities that ensure the turnover and investment diversification were the main directions on which the company focused.After a history of over a century, IASITEX S.A., formerly TESATURA, is still a symbol and a milestone in the city of Iasi.Its existence is intertwined with the destiny of the people who worked here and set up families and they wanted their children to take on the same job. These people who have dedicated their whole life, have invested a lot of work, ambition and perseverance for their dreams to come true, they are the reason why IASITEX SA exists and certainly another century of activity will add to the one celebrated not long ago.