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Inside Technical Textiles: The Glen Raven Story

This is the second of a series of articles by Senior Editor Cary Sherburne on technical textiles—how they fit in the industry, why they are important, and interesting new developments. In this installment in the series, Sherburne shares the Glen Raven story, a 138-year-old company that has almost completely reinvented itself.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Glen Raven, Inc., a family-owned textile company headquartered near Burlington, N.C., has enjoyed a rich history of innovation throughout its 138-year history. The company began as a local cotton mill in 1880 and has grown into a global textile powerhouse with over 40 locations across 17 countries and six continents.

Today, Glen Raven employs over 3,000 associates and serves customers in more than 120 countries. Glen Raven fabrics are used in a wide range of end-use applications that span multiple industries and geographies. The company has three operating divisions:

Over the course of several decades, Glen Raven has found success by staying adaptable, creative, and by reinventing themselves in the textile industry. To illustrate this point, imagine this: nearly 90% of Glen Raven’s current business is in markets that are new to the company since 2004.


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About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.

Cary Sherburne is available for speaking engagements and consulting projects. To get more information contact us.

Please offer your feedback to Cary. She can be reached at [email protected].

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