Established in 1848, Borrel was a manufacturer of braids and mechanical military and furnishing trimmings. To supplement its know-how, Borrel buys Arthaud, a company specialized in the hand embroideries with gold, silver and silk threads decorating prestige dresses and flags of French armies.

In 1993, Borrel decides to develop export sales and buys out Bouvard company, a highly established worldwide company, giving Borrel an international dimension and a new production capacity.

In 1997, the company merges all the activities and becomes B.B.A., Borrel Bouvard Arthaud, with the head office in La Chartre sur le Loir. The same year, in order to answer to all its customers’ needs, BBA creates its own leather goods factory in Tunisia.