1919 – Foundation
José Regojo Rodriguez was the founder of the current Grupo Regojo. He arrived in Lisbon at the beginning of the 20th century, aged 14, from the Spanish region of Galicia.
In 1919 he founded the first national garment company, “J. R. Rodriguez “, located in Rua das Pedras Negras, where shirts were made with the Regojo brand. The factory operated on two floors and had eight employees. Later, the factory moved to the street of S. Lázaro and quickly the company enters in franca and prosperous expansion, beginning to confection, besides the shirts, pajamas and polos. In a short time, the number of employees was around three hundred.
Throughout this period, the dynamics of development and the desire for growth that the leaders have always shown, with a view to the expansion of the business, should be highlighted. For this reason, there was a great adhesion to participation in fairs and exhibitions, both national and international, where it was sought to establish external and commercial contacts, making known and consolidating the Regojo brand.
70’s – Birth of the Velasco Regojo
In 1972, with the birth of a new company, “Confecções Regojo Velasco” consubstantiated the entry of the second generation of the family in the management of the group companies.
Founded by the son-in-law of the founder, Jaime Velasco Regojo, the new factory was dedicated to the production of women’s clothes with the Dali brand.
80’s – Creation of another factory unit, Aissela
In 1980, under the direction of Teresa Regojo, after the premature death of her husband Jaime Regojo, another factory was created, Aissela – Sociedade Europea de Confecções, which brings to Portugal the representation of the “Pierre Cardin” brand.
The year 1982 marks the beginning of a new era, the outline of the current Regojo Group. The management team is extended to the third generation of the family. The older children of Teresa and Jaime Regojo begin to assume responsibilities in the management of companies, keeping alive a strong concern in following the evolution of the world and the fashion markets.
Following this new phase, in 1984, the marketing of clothing through DIMODA began. This company will represent and distribute internationally prestigious brands in our country.
At the end of the decade, with the increase in competition from Southeast Asian manufacturers, the prospect of a break in the traditional multi-brand trade and the triggering of phenomena such as internationally renowned brand franchising, the Regojo family decides to invest in single-brand marketing through the regime Franchise and own brands.
90’s – Start of marketing through Massimo Dutti
In 1990 the family began to trade through Massimo Dutti, becoming the Group Regojo the master franchise of this insignia. This brand quickly took a prominent place in the fashion world in Portugal, becoming by itself one of the largest in the clothing sector (and certainly the largest with national capital).
In 1982 a new company, the West Company, was born to operate in stores with the Wesley brand. Over the years, it has gained notoriety and has become an inescapable reference for the most selective male consumer. This brand began an internationalization process in 2003, with a store in Madrid in the prestigious neighborhood of Salamanca.
It is in 1996 that the group decides to open the first stores with the insignia Pierre Cardin. Subsequently, in 2005, this decision would be reversed and distribution of this insignia would be concentrated in the multi-brand channel.
In 1997 Rómulo was created, the company that would hold the “master franchise” of the Elena Miró women’s brand, characterized by producing large sizes, which would prove to be very stable and with adequate growth rates for its niche market. In February 2006, this business was to be sold to the international brand owners, Grupo Miróglio.
In 1998 it is the turn of Mango to be part of the portfolio of the group’s prestigious brands, through franchise. In order to consolidate its position in the market, Mangonor, a company that operated five stores in the north of the country, was acquired at the end of 2014.
00’s – Friday’s project
In 2000, Dali, its own brand whose collection was partly conceived in one of the group’s factories, is now distributed in multi-brand stores and in Dimoda.
In 2005, the group embarked on a joint venture with a Spanish company to launch the Hakei shoes and accessories brand, and acquired the master franchise of the international brand of ready-to-wear Orchestra for the target of babies And children from 0 to 14 years of age. In 2006, the Regojo group acquired an important stake in the company Fashin Park, which has in its portfolio the brands Nike Women and Punt Roma. The Punt Roma brand would no longer be part of the group’s portfolio as of February 2008 and the Orchestra brand in March 2009.
In 2007 the group sells its network of Hakei and Mango stores and invests in the international project Friday’s Project, as well as in Nike Concept stores. It is this year that the group begins the sale of Inditex group stocks in Africa, South America and Asia. And also opens, in partnership, the first Fashion Planet store in Algiers.
10’s – Freedom Street Fashion
In 2011 was inaugurated the Freedom Street Fashion. Also in 2011, the Regojo group began restructuring its retail presence, selling Wesley stores to Dielmar, and closing the Friday’s Project stores network.
The restructuring was completed in January 2012 with the sale of the Massimo Dutti business to the Inditex group, although the group’s retail business continued to be reviewed. Still in 2016, the number of Dimoda stores had gone from 14 to 5.