Apex Mills

What Apex Mills does

Apex Mills is a privately held, family-owned U.S. manufacturer of specialty warp and circular knit textiles, founded in 1943 by Milton Kurz and currently led by CEO Jonathan Kurz. The company designs and produces engineered fabrics — including 3D spacer fabrics, elastomeric knits, mesh/netting, and branded platforms OutStretch (spandex-free stretch) and EcoRich (recycled-yarn) — out of three vertically integrated facilities in Inwood, NY (headquarters), Graham, NC (Apex Aridyne, warping and circular knitting), and Woolwine, VA (Insight Textiles, warp knitting and dyehouse), totaling 400,000+ square feet and 50+ knitting machines. Its customer base is concentrated in defense (DoD, Berry Amendment compliant programs), aerospace (NASA), medical/healthcare (Cleveland Clinic), contract furniture (Steelcase), apparel, automotive, and entertainment/recreation, with custom development driven by an application-led design model and supported by in-house dyeing, finishing, slitting, and 3D CAD capabilities.

The business operates a B2B, sales-led go-to-market model: consultative selling to industrial buyers, application-driven co-design, and quote-based pricing with Net 30 terms on standard goods and 50% deposits on custom orders. Apex Mills monetizes through one-time custom textile manufacturing contracts, recurring dyeing and finishing services, and design/development engagements; it does not sell direct to consumers. Capital intensity, regulatory certifications (ISO 9001:2015, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Berry Amendment, USMCA, CAFTA-DR), and an 80-year brand track record with NASA, the Department of Defense, and Fortune 500 customers form the core competitive position.

Strategic posture has shifted toward measured scale-up: the January 2023 acquisition of the former HanesBrands Stuart, Virginia plant (Insight Textiles, acquired for $3.1 million) doubled capacity, and the August 2024 OutStretch launch opened a new sustainable stretch platform with multi-jurisdictional trade compliance. Recent senior commercial and operations hires (Hopkins in business development, Rojas at Aridyne) and the AFFOA partnership with MIT and DoD indicate continued investment in product pipeline and smart-textile capability.

Name

Apex Mills

Legal name

Apex Mills Corporation

Website

https://apexmills.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apex Mills is a privately held U.S. specialty textile manufacturer founded in 1943, designing and producing engineered warp and circular knit fabrics for defense, aerospace, medical, apparel, and industrial customers across three vertically integrated facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical Textile Manufacturing

NAICS

Fabric Mills (3132), Textile Mills (313)

SIC

Knitting Mills (2250), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Knitted Fabric Mills (IMAOABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)

Keywords

• Warp knit textiles
• Industrial textile manufacturing
• 3D spacer fabrics
• Technical fabrics
• Stretch fabric solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Inwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Textile Manufacturing: Manufacture and sale of custom and specialty textile products including warp knits, circular knits, 3D spacer fabrics, mesh/netting, and elastomeric fabrics for industrial and technical applications
2. Dyeing and Finishing Services: Automated fabric dyeing, finishing, and surface treatment services including fire retardants, moisture wicking, antimicrobial, temperature controlling, and abrasion resistance
3. Design and Development Services: Application-driven textile design and development services with 3D CAD modeling and on-site development capabilities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Apex Mills manufactures and supplies specialty industrial and technical textiles, including warp knits, circular knits, mesh/netting, elastomeric fabrics, and 3D spacer fabrics. The company operates vertically integrated US facilities for knitting, dyeing, finishing, and slitting, and delivers custom fabric solutions with proprietary platforms such as OutStretch™ (spandex-free stretch) and EcoRich™ (recycled-yarn fabrics). Its products serve aerospace, military/defense, medical, automotive, apparel, contract furniture, entertainment, and home furnishings end markets.

Product overview

Apex Mills is a USA-based specialty textile manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of fabric products and services. The core product portfolio includes warp knits (tricot and raschel), circular knits, mesh/netting, elastomeric fabrics, and 3D spacer fabrics, each designed for specific industrial and technical applications. Specialty branded products include OutStretch™ (spandex-free sustainable stretch fabrics) and EcoRich™ (eco-friendly recycled yarn fabrics). Golf impact screen products (DNB398, DNB399, DNB400, PW95) serve the entertainment/simulator market. Services include world-class automated dyeing, finishing, and surface treatments (fire retardant, antimicrobial, moisture-wicking, abrasion resistance). The company operates three USA facilities in New York, North Carolina, and Virginia, serving aerospace, military, medical/healthcare, apparel, automotive, and contract furniture industries. Founded in 1943, Apex Mills emphasizes application-driven design with in-person collaboration and on-site development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OutStretch™: Revolutionary collection of spandex-free stretch fabrics for high-performance apparel applications including sportswear, activewear, military uniforms, and accessories.
• EcoRich™
• Spacer Dome Pro Face Mask

Products and services

• Warp Knits Technical warp knit textiles including tricot and raschel knits where yarns run vertically parallel to the fabric length, offering dimensional stability, controlled stretch, breathability, and fast production. Used for sportswear, medical compression, military, automotive, and aerospace applications.
• Circular Knits Weft knit fabrics produced on circular knitting machines, offering significant mechanical stretch in the width direction, flowing drape, and comfort for everyday garments, home textiles, and industrial applications.
• Mesh/Netting Open fabric constructions engineered for airflow and breathability, with mesh holes tuned for moisture management. Applied in athletic apparel, linings, insect protection, and filtration.
• Elastomeric Fabrics Stretchy fabrics incorporating elastomeric content, produced at the Insight Textiles facility in Virginia for shapewear, intimate apparel, and applications requiring comfortable stretch with shape retention.
• 3D Spacer Fabrics Three-dimensional textiles with two outer layers surrounding a looping yarn (pile) structure, providing absorbency, breathability, cushion, loft, resilience, softness, and visual appeal. Used across automotive, filtration, footwear, furniture, geotextiles, medical, military, and sportswear applications.
• OutStretch™ Collection Revolutionary spandex-free stretch fabric line providing exceptional durability, comfort, moisture-wicking, shape retention, recyclability, high tensile strength, non-transparency, wrinkle and crease resistance, and a soft pill-resistant texture. Targets sportswear, activewear, athleisure, military uniforms, and accessory apparel.
• EcoRich™ Fabric Line Environmentally friendly fabric line manufactured from post-consumer recycled yarns, with low eco-impact dyeing options, encompassing mesh netting, solid knits, and 3D spacers for athletic shoes, clothing, sporting goods, backpacks, military, and custom uniforms.
• Golf Impact Screen Fabrics (DNB398, DNB399, DNB400, PW95) Family of multilayer and single-layer knit screens engineered for golf impact screens and simulator setups, optimized for projection clarity, impact absorption, abrasion resistance, and dual-side aesthetics in commercial and residential simulator installations.
• Spacer Dome Pro Face Mask Washable, reusable general-use face mask built on a 3D spacer fabric dome, patterned after N95 medical masks to create an air space enabling clear speech and easy breathing. Originally developed with Cleveland Clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Fabric Dyeing & Finishing Services Automated fabric dyeing, finishing, and surface treatment services including fire retardants, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, temperature controlling, and abrasion resistance treatments, supported by an in-house dye lab for custom color development and low eco-impact finishes.
• Slitting Capabilities Vertically integrated slitting service that expands the company's suite of post-knitting capabilities, supporting faster turnaround and agility for customers requiring custom roll widths.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of manufacturing waste diverted from landfills at Insight Textiles facility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with AFFOA, led by MIT and the Department of Defense, to revolutionize the textile industry by transforming traditional and developing fibers, yarns and fabrics into sophisticated end products and systems. The collaboration focuses on developing smart fabrics and advanced textile technologies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Polartec (Milliken): Polartec, a Milliken-owned U.S. knitter of performance fabrics (fleece, technical knits, insulation), is the closest direct peer to Apex Mills in warp and circular knit performance textiles for apparel, military, and outdoor end markets.
• Sefar Group: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of precision monofilament fabrics, mesh, and filter media for industrial, medical, and automotive uses — closely comparable to Apex's mesh/netting and 3D spacer product lines.
• Bally Ribbon Mills: U.S. manufacturer of specialized woven, knit, and braided narrow fabrics for aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial customers, overlapping with Apex's Berry-Compliant and technical textile offerings.
• Heathcoat Fabrics: British technical knitter producing warp, weft, and knitted mesh fabrics for aerospace, defense, automotive, and medical — a direct comparator to Apex's industrial knit product mix.
• Shawmut Corporation: U.S. manufacturer of high-performance technical textiles and laminates serving automotive, military, medical, and industrial markets; directly comparable to Apex Mills' specialty knit and finished textile portfolio.
• Baltex: UK-based manufacturer of technical warp and weft knitted fabrics for medical, automotive, and industrial applications, overlapping directly with Apex's 3D spacer, technical knit, and finishing capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Milliken & Company: Large diversified U.S. textile manufacturer whose product portfolio (performance fabrics, industrial textiles, specialty knits) overlaps with Apex's, but at far greater scale and across many more categories.
• Culp, Inc. U.S. manufacturer of mattress and upholstery fabrics including knit and circular-knit constructions, partially overlapping with Apex's furniture and technical knit segments.
• Glen Raven: Owner of Sunbrella and a broad portfolio of performance and technical fabrics for upholstery, marine, and industrial markets, competing with Apex in technical knits and contract furniture textiles.
• Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics: Global engineered textiles producer serving aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial markets with coated and laminated fabrics, adjacent to Apex's coated/finished knit capabilities at scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apexmillscorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChHO9-jUuhlkSYhgo8NG2AQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Apex-Mills-112803633824098
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apex-mills

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apex Mills