In 1945 Gerhard Topp founded a single company which focused on the manufacture of patchwork rugs and bias tapes. After just a short while the company was already employing more than 120 people. From 1948, more than one hundred million metres of tape were being manufactured a year.

In the early 1950's, the founder Gerhard Topp invented the seamless bias tape, patented it and thus revolutionised the manufacture of bias tape beyond Germany's boundaries. Consequences of the innovation: rationalised production possibilities, considerable costs savings and improved processing qualities for the customer. More than half a century later, the tube-based manufacture of bias tape is now the global standard.

The first independent plant in Milan was founded in 1956. There - in one of the most famous fashion cities - our technical know-how combined with the Italian material and fashion expertise. Other production sites in Rheydt, Germany, Manerbio, Italy and London, Great Britain, followed.

In the 1990's, the number of textile companies in the Allgäu was reduced considerably. However, Gerhard Topp GmbH invested in the future. In 1993 Volker Topp, son of the company's founder, built a new plant on a 7,000-square metres site in Durach close to Kempten. Warehousing, order processing by IT, logistics and many other internal processes were significantly improved and simplified as a result of the new building. At the same time, the Italian production plants were combined in a new plant in Bassano. Alongside the administration between Como and Milan, in Meda various cut and ready-made tapes are manufactured in a 2,800-square metre plant.

Since the end of 2006, Gerhard Topp GmbH has had its own production plant in Romania. Topp Romania srl is going to be an important part of the eastern European textile market .