1797

Seven generations, in direct succession, have followed Benigno Crespi, who, over 200 years ago, founded one of the most famous companies in the Italian textile industry.
At the end of the 18th century, established in Busto Arsizio, the birthplace of Benigno, the Crespi family dyeing company became a specialist in the finishing of home-woven fabrics and enjoyed an excellent reputation in the provinces of Milan and Lodi where its production was sold.
The name "Tengitt" (dyers) was given to this branch of the Crespi family.

XIXth

Antonio, son of Benigno, discovered Swiss thread and, in the 19th century, transformed the craft company into a cotton weaving mill. This initiative gave birth to one of the first Italian cotton industries and the development of the family business was to be continual.

1869

In 1869, his son, Carlo, moved the textile business to Ghemme (Novara) where he purchased a paper mill located next to a three-metre high waterfall on the Roggia Mora Canal, an irrigation canal built in 1441 by Ludovico Il Moro, Duke of Milan. This energy source, which later became the property of the Crespi family, was harnessed by a hydraulic turbine, which allowed transforming the hand looms into power looms.
From father, Carlo, to son, Modesto, to grandsons, Carlo, Guido and Alberto, all brilliantly qualified engineers, the company under their management was equipped with the most advanced technological installations and high-performance machines.

1872

After the creation of an initial spinning mill in 1872, a weaving mill with 300 power looms using energy supplied by a second waterfall on the Roggia Mora canal was established.
An ultra-modern spinning mill was established, using a third waterfall and the intermittent thread guides were replaced by rings.

1938

In 1938, Alberto designed and built the first two hydraulic power stations (today there are five) on the canal. They remain today the strength and pride of the Crespi Company, enabling it to respond to the increasing energy demands imposed by the expanding textile industry.
Between WWI and WWII, Modesto, with the assistance of his three sons, modernized and enlarged his spinning and weaving mills. He added a dyeing and bleaching plant for pure cotton threads and fabrics. In addition, he became active in charitable work in Ghemme.

1952

In 1952, power looms were replaced by automatic looms and the spinning mills benefited from high-tech equipment.

1960

In addition to the market for white goods, tablecloths and sheets on which the company had built its reputation in the period between the wars, in the sixties the company added work clothes to the production line. After the premature deaths of Alberto (1962) and Guido (1964), under the management of Carlo, activity was re-centred on the production of high-quality clothing fabrics.