The company was originally a weaving mill of furniture fabrics, founded in 1909 and administered by the Van de Wiele family.

In 1959, Tissage Van de Wiele made way for a modernized company that specialized in the production of woven rugs.  This company was called Vlaamse Tapijtweverij (Flemish Carpet Weaving Mill).

In a short time span, all European countries as well as other markets like the USA, the USSR and Eastern areas were conquered.  Prado, the brand name introduced at the time was to become a synonym of artistic perfection and beauty, following the Prado Art Gallery in Madrid. 

In 1965, PRADO TUFTED MILLS was founded in order to closely respond to the expanding market for tufted wall to wall.  To fulfill this goal, the factory buildings in Kortrijk had become too confined and J. Sabbe bought 130.000 m2 of ground in the industrial zone of Heule-Kortrijk in early 1965.

In 1966, the production of Prado tufted rugs effectively started in the brand new factory buildings.

In 1985, the Flemish Carpet Weaving Mill started the construction of a new production hall on the industrial ground of the Prado-Flemish Carpet Weaving Mill in Kuurne.

In 1986, the construction of the weaving mill in the new production hall was completed and the weaving mill was operational in 1987.

In 1990, Associated weavers, a large international group, acquired Prado in 1990.

In 1994, a modern production apparatus with extrusion and air entangling machines was taking into operation.

In 1997, the extrusion production capacity was doubled.

In 2004, in order to further expand the Prado range, a brand new import division was setup under the name Papilio.