Blanket factory and textile museum

Undoubtedly one of the main attractions of Grazalema is its blanket, a product of reference. Grazalema was also a pioneer in textile production. Back in 1908, the grazalemeño Vicente Narváez Bajón built the first factory of yarn, blankets and wool cloths in the Ribera de Gáidovar, an area of orchards and cultivation, where he took advantage of the hydraulic force generated by the Guadalete River as it passed through. At the beginning of the forties the location of the factory was moved to the exit of the village, where it has been working for eighty years combining the artisan techniques of finishing with the necessary mechanization according to the current times. Today it is José Mario Sánchez Campuzano and José Mario Sánchez Coronel who are in charge of the family business, which is open to the public for anyone who wants to know the history of "the blankets of Grazalema". The importance of this phenomenon in Grazalema is reflected in the history of the municipality: during the eighteenth century and the first part of the nineteenth century, Grazalema was the regional reference point, despite its location, was judicial and administrative center. Hence it began to be called 'Cádiz el chico' (Cadiz the boy). Its importance was mainly due to its commercial activity, highlighting the wool products. For several centuries the textile craftsmanship of Grazalema stood out as a manufacturing center. A town with about 9,000 inhabitants of which around 4,000 were dedicated to the industry. Most of the workers worked from their homes, with their own looms, along with the other members of the family. Once the blankets were designed and woven, they were taken to the factories to finish the weaving process. However, during the 1970s a process of decline began due to the pressure of industrial manufacturing in urban centers, added to the economic situation of the province and the financial crisis in Spain. Not even the quality of the wool of Grazalema (considered cleaner and purer than that of other areas of Spain, due to the fact that it is the point where it rains the most) could prevent the textile industry of the municipality from suffering the effects of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. The main phenomenon that affected it was the growth and consolidation of the cotton industry in Catalonia, where they modernized the machinery and managed to triple production. In addition, the lack of communication routes with the outside world. Grazalema became another victim of the industrialization process that was transforming Spain. In the words of Romero de Torres, "the great importance that this town had since ancient times as an eminently manufacturing center until a few years ago when, unfortunately, this industry has declined so much that there are only two or three factories that continue weaving the renowned cloths and blankets of Grazalema".