Founded in the 1970s, in Vila Nova de Famalicão, north of Portugal, by Jacinto Silva and Fatima Afonso, MJM – Marjomotex Confeções, Lda – is a family-owned company that stands out as denim makers.
Perfection sewed by skilled hands
Focusing in the B2B segment, primarily focusing in the manufacturing of trousers in fabrics such as denim, twill and knit, the company operates both on-demand – based on a sample or mould from the customer – or vertically – ensuring all stages of production: modelling, cutting, sewing and washing. Over the years, the company has developed solid know-how, specializing in the production of denim trousers, which then extended to other fabrics and, more recently, other garments.
Today, Monica Afonso, general manager, follows in the footsteps of the founders, inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit whom after years of industry experience began to buy the surplus fabrics of the local factories, and the art of sewing mastered by her mother who used to make the clothes that they both sold at the local market. With about 40 employees, some already part of the 2nd generation of families working in the company, MJM has built a unique reputation of quality and reliability of its products and customer service.
Regardless of whether the range is medium or high, the quality is always there. We don’t know how to do bad things
Specialized in making trousers, with a production that varies between 800 and 1,100 pieces per day, 30% of which is directed to international customers, in a list that goes from Zara to Moschino, passing through Carolina Herrera and El Corte Inglés, the only variable what doesn’t change in the company is quality, guaranteed Mónica Afonso.
Resulted on the one hand in its recognition as SME Leader in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and SME Excellence by IAPMEI in 2015 and on the other side in solid partnerships and lasting business relationships with some of the most critical Iberian players at the retail level – eg.: Inditex, El Corte Inglés, Massimo Dutti, Mike Davis, Quebramar, Lanidor, Guimanos, Globe, etc.
It is, in essence, a family history spanning two generations of managers and employees. Its success lies in the above formula and the atelier-like structure of its production department led by the know-how of highly skilled sewists; this allows the company to combine agility and flexibility while simultaneously achieving superior levels of perfection.
Also of note, the example that the company sets in terms of female entrepreneurship – with 100% female management – and the promotion of it among its workforce, mostly female (95%).
Social Networks
Social networks are also a strong bet to go further. “I have to show up, or the client doesn’t know I’m here,” said the director-general of Marjomotex, adding that online activity has channelled “several requests for information and from various countries. Before we managed to get the word out, customers were almost for life. But not today, now the quantities are small, they have to be more customers and sometimes they change. I had to adapt”, he admitted, adding that “before I worked more like a fashion, now I do private labels. I want to reach out to brands, so they are concerned with distribution channels, catalogues, sales, think the pieces, and I make their dreams come true, making the productions ».