his edition’s cover interview was an age-old wish of ours. For several months now we wanted to have A. Sampaio & Filhos as our main feature and the outcome will surely delight our readers, as it has delighted us, immensely.

João Mendes was the torchbearer of a family with a firm tradition in the sector, but his interview may be viewed as a faithful portrait of our textile industry, known for having, fortunately, many similar cases of family-owned businesses.

At a time when the country is focused on suspicious of nepotism in high-ranking official positions, A. Sampaio & Filhos is the perfect example of how one needs not be a stranger in order to be competent and useful to the common good.

Know how to read the signs is one of the many qualities that João Mendes names as the company’s reasons for success, and many are the good signs that can be read and interpreted from this interview.

Knowing how to wait was once our virtue, and we’re immeasurably satisfied with the validation that it was all worth it. The thirst of waiting is only quenched by abundance.