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The OLYMP company is founded by Eugen Bezner. With just six employees, the textile entrepreneur began producing men's shirts in the modest laundry room of his home in Bietigheim, which were initially made from existing military fabrics or finer parachute silk. Eugen Bezner's endeavour to produce a men's shirt of outstanding quality and workmanship prompted him to choose the memorable brand name ‘OLYMP’ - in reference to the Greek mountain range of the same name. From the outset, the name was to embody a similar meaning in the shirt market and stand above everything else.

Due to the sudden death of Eugen Bezner, his son Eberhard was placed in charge of the medium-sized company as managing director at the age of just 24. Eberhard Bezner regularly expanded the company and provided the impetus for the successful development of the OLYMP brand in the decades that followed.

The first production facility outside Germany starts manufacturing shirts for OLYMP. In the face of almost full employment, the local textile and clothing industry was continuously losing workers to other industries such as mechanical engineering or the automotive industry, which is why Eberhard Bezner was forced to gradually relocate production abroad. The first foreign shirt factory in the historic region of Slavonia, which at the time belonged to Yugoslavia and is now located in eastern Croatia.

The last OLYMP plant in Kißlegg in the Allgäu region is sold.

OLYMP ventures into the casual shirt segment

Mark Bezner (born 1963) joins the company as Head of Marketing and Sales. The grandson of company founder Eugen Bezner and son of co-shareholder Eberhard Bezner committed himself early on to the company tradition and to taking over the medium-sized family business.

Mark Bezner is appointed to the Management Board.

OLYMP achieved its final breakthrough with the targeted marketing of a non-iron and crease-resistant version of the OLYMP Luxor business shirt line introduced in 1988, which, despite the use of pure cotton, is characterized by being completely non-iron and largely crease-resistant and, in a constantly evolving version, continues to be a significant growth driver for the company.

Poster banners, shopping bags, customer brochures and other advertising materials are now emblazoned with funny slogans such as ‘Away with the ironing penalty’, ‘People, do you want to iron forever’ or ‘If you don't want to listen, you have to iron’.

Around two million euros are being invested in the first structural expansion of the dispatch halls.

As an absolute novelty, there is now also a slightly waisted version of the successful non-iron and crease-resistant shirt under the name “OLYMP Luxor slim line” (now OLYMP Luxor modern fit).

Everyone knows those special moments in life: The moments of success, happiness and satisfaction. A very exclusive state in which you find yourself ‘in your personal OLYMP’, so to speak, and are literally on top of the world. OLYMP has made these metaphorical considerations the contemporary guiding slogan of its unmistakable brand strategy. ‘Men in OLYMP’ are successful, attach importance to a fashionable, high-quality appearance and cut a perfect figure in every situation.

The capacity of the existing warehouse and dispatch areas is once again increased by extending the existing buildings at a cost of more than five million euros. According to figures from the textile panel of the Nuremberg-based GfK consumer research company, OLYMP becomes the market leader for men's shirts in Germany.

Introduction of OLYMP Level Five body fit - the new, form-fitting business shirt in comfort stretch fabric for fashion-conscious men.

Establishment of the OLYMP Bezner Foundation by the Eberhard family, Birgit and Mark Bezner, endowed with one million euros in share capital.

Acquisition of the Bavarian knitwear specialist MÄRZ München AG, which is now an independent company within the OLYMP Bezner Group as MAERZ MUENCHEN KG. The knitting expertise thus acquired, including its own production facility, forms the basis for the targeted expansion of the product range in the knitwear and warp-knitted goods segment.

With the successful launch of an OLYMP knitwear collection with fashionable sweaters, pullovers, cardigans and trousers, the expansion with high-quality menswear is driven forward and the entire company is placed on a broader economic footing. Extension of the administration building and ground-breaking ceremony for the new OLYMP Logistics Center (OLZ).

Commissioning of the high-performance OLYMP Logistics Centre (OLZ), the world's largest and unique automated shirt warehouse in the combination of shuttle and overhead conveyor technology, with a capacity of 265,000 cartons for almost four million items of clothing. At around 45 million euros, this is the largest single investment in the company's history.

OLYMP becomes official product partner of Bundesliga soccer team Borussia Dortmund

OLYMP becomes official product partner of Bundesliga soccer team Borussia Dortmund

Further expansion of the company site in Höpfigheimer Straße in Bietigheim-Bissingen and investment of around ten million euros in new office and functional space.

OLYMP presents new brand claim MY STYLE. MY STATEMENT, which formulates a self-image and the promise to customers that OLYMP products not only demonstrate a sense of style, but also a clear inner attitude. Hollywood superstar Gerard Butler becomes brand ambassador for the entire OLYMP brand.

With the introduction of the 24/Seven line, an innovative product that is as comfortable as a T-shirt and as stylish as a shirt, OLYMP is responding to changing wearing habits

With the ‘Green Choice’ sustainability label introduced in autumn, OLYMP identifies products that stand for ecological sustainability in particular.

OLYMP and HAKRO cooperate for fair and safe and launch “iMPACT PROGRAM”

Boris Herrmann, professional sailor, climate activist and skipper of Team Malizia becomes ambassador of the ambitious Green Choice Program.

Bezner. Bausa. Bietigheim. In October 2022, the first capsule collection created together with the artist Bausa is launched.

The new OLYMP Casual Concept is being launched with a consistent brand image, a sharper product statement and a contemporary fit.

OLYMP goes online with a new online store at olymp.com and creates a new digital brand experience.

OLYMP is launching a new range of pants in its online store and will no longer only stock outerwear.