What Airtex does

The Airtex Group is a Minneapolis-based, family-owned cut-and-sew textile manufacturer founded in 1918 as the Sam Miller Bag Company. The company designs and produces custom sewn products across four broad categories: home décor (bedding, window treatments, pillows, soft seating), consumer bags (totes, backpacks, diaper bags, lifestyle and fitness bags under the Acme Made brand), OEM solutions (cases, medical packs, EVA cases for healthcare, automotive, aviation, and consumer electronics customers), and a small branded PPE line. Manufacturing runs out of a 35,000-square-foot Minneapolis headquarters with an in-house design center and sample room, supplemented by offshore partners, with a stated minimum order quantity of 500 units and project-based, quote-driven pricing.

The company serves enterprise customers through direct B2B sales — named logos include Restoration Hardware, Best Buy, Lifetouch, Andersen Windows, Uponor, Room and Board, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, and Magnolia — and distributes its Acme Made branded products in 40 countries, including via a 2019 licensing agreement with Sarden Solutions covering Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Revenue streams include custom private-label manufacturing, OEM solutions, and branded Acme Made hardware sales, with the company claiming production of more than 1 billion units over its 100+ year history. The company is privately held by the Miller family, has no disclosed external funding rounds, and employs nearly 100 people across headquarters and international locations.

Name

Airtex

Legal name

The Airtex Group

Website

https://airtexgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Airtex Group is a Minneapolis-based cut-and-sew textile manufacturer founded in 1918, producing custom home décor, consumer bags, and OEM sewn products for enterprise retailers and brands across 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Cut and Sew Textile Manufacturing

NAICS

Blind and Shade Manufacturing (33792), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Household Furniture (2510)

akta.pro primary industry

Mattress & Pillow Components Manufacturing (Ticking/Pillow Shells/Protectors) (IMAOAKAE)

Keywords

• Custom textile manufacturing
• Cut and sew solutions
• Private label soft goods
• Home decor manufacturing
• OEM textile production

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Private Label Manufacturing: Turnkey private label soft goods manufacturing for major retailers and brands. The company designs, develops and manufactures custom sewn products sold under customer brands.
2. OEM Solutions: Custom sewn products and textile solutions for OEM customers across industries including consumer electronics, healthcare, automotive, and aviation.
3. Acme Made Brand Products: Proprietary brand including backpacks, laptop sleeves, lifestyle bags, and fitness bags sold through retail and direct channels. Products distributed globally through licensed partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Airtex Group is a custom cut-and-sew textile manufacturer providing turnkey private label and OEM soft goods from design through delivery. Its portfolio spans home décor categories (bedding, window treatments, pillows, soft seating), consumer and OEM bags/carrying cases, medical packs, EVA cases, and the Acme Made branded line of laptop sleeves, backpacks, lifestyle bags, fitness bags, and PPE. Manufacturing is supported by an in-house Minneapolis design center and sample room, with production options across domestic USA facilities and offshore partners.

Product overview

The Airtex Group is a cut-and-sew textile manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of custom sewn products. The core offering spans home décor categories including Bedding (custom sheeting, duvets, throws, coverlets), Window Treatments (drapes, shades, blinds), Pillows (indoor/outdoor), and Soft Seating (poufs, beanbags, cushions). The company also produces Consumer Bags (totes, backpacks, diaper bags) and OEM Products (custom cases, medical packs, EVA cases) serving healthcare, consumer electronics, and automotive industries. Through its Acme Made sub-brand acquired in the 2017-2018 merger, the company offers Lifestyle Bags, Fitness Bags, Skinny Sleeves (laptop/tablet protection), and PPE products. Design consultation and prototyping are conducted at the Minneapolis headquarters, with manufacturing performed domestically and through offshore partners. The company provides turnkey private label soft goods sold under various brands worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Acme Made: High-quality backpacks, totes, laptop/tablet cases and lifestyle bags brand under The Airtex Group portfolio. Products are designed to be Authentic, Simple, and Cool.

Products and services

• Bedding Custom-made bedding including sheeting, duvets, throws, and coverlets with exclusive prints, designs, and embellishments such as pleats, ruffles, tassels, and unique fabric constructions; produced for retail/home décor brands under private label.
• Consumer Bags Custom consumer bags from totes and accessory pouches to diaper bags and backpacks in canvas, nylon, and leather; available in various styles, shapes, and sizes for private label customers.
• Pillows Custom pillows with exclusive prints and artwork, embellishments, varied edging and piping options, and textiles suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Soft Seating Custom soft seating including poufs, slip covers, beanbag chairs, and lounge cushions for indoor and outdoor use, customizable by fabric, color, style, size, and filling.
• OEM Products Custom OEM solutions including bags and carrying cases (soft-sided cases, pouches, cut & sew packaging, backpacks, wheeled bags), medical packs for hospitals and home/clinical healthcare settings, and EVA cases with custom branding via silk screening, embossing, debossing, and patches.
• Window Treatments Custom-made drapes, shades, and blinds including sheer and lined drapes, pleated, grommet, and rod pocket drapes, plus roller, honeycomb, and cordless roman shades across many styles, shapes, colors, and fabrics.
• Skinny Sleeves Laptop and tablet protection sleeves made with StretchShell Neoprene™ featuring water and stain resistance, fully padded lining, zipperless design, and an elastic band for secure device fit; sold under the Acme Made brand.
• Lifestyle Bags (Acme Made) Acme Made Union Street and North Point Lifestyle bags including compact commuter backpacks to large tube duffels, made with StretchShell Neoprene™ fabric, aluminum hardware, and high-quality zippers; sold under the Acme Made brand via direct e-commerce and licensed international distributors.
• Fitness Bags (Acme Made) Gym bags made with StretchShell Neoprene™ fabric featuring weather and stain resistance, yoga mat straps, and extra-long top-to-bottom zippers for quick access to workout essentials; sold under the Acme Made brand.
• Acme Made PPE (Face Masks) Acme Made branded face masks made from 100% cotton fabric manufactured in the Minneapolis factory; offered as part of the Acme Made consumer product portfolio.

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sarden SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 April 2019Licensing agreement for Acme Made brand products to be sold and distributed throughout Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Sarden Solutions is a rapidly growing designer and marketer of global brands in Consumer Electronic and Lifestyle Accessories categories with established distribution channels globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WestPoint Home: One of the largest U.S. home textile manufacturers producing bedding, bath, and home décor products for major retailers. Directly competes with Airtex in custom cut-and-sew manufacturing for home décor private-label programs.
• 1888 Mills: Major U.S. textile manufacturer producing towels, bedding, and home textiles with both domestic and offshore manufacturing. Comparable to Airtex in vertical integration, dual-shore production, and serving national retail and hospitality customers.
• Hollander Sleep Products: Leading North American manufacturer of pillows, comforters, mattress pads, and bedding products. Directly comparable to Airtex's pillow and bedding manufacturing business, supplying national retailers with similar private-label soft goods.
• American Textile Company: Privately held manufacturer of bedding, mattress protection, and sleep products for major retailers. Direct peer with similar focus on private-label home textiles and custom sewn products for big-box and specialty retail channels.
• Pacific Coast Feather Company: Established U.S. bedding manufacturer specializing in pillows, comforters, and feather/down products sold through retail and hospitality channels. Competes with Airtex's pillow product line and shares similar long-standing customer relationships with home décor retailers.
• Case Logic: Manufacturer of cases, bags, and accessories for consumer electronics, now part of Thule Group. Direct competitor in Airtex's OEM bags and consumer electronics accessories business, particularly relevant given Case Logic's prior connection to Airtex's VP of Product Development.
• Timbuk2: Custom bag and backpack manufacturer known for made-to-order soft goods with design and customization capabilities. Comparable to Airtex in custom cut-and-sew manufacturing model for bags and lifestyle products sold through retail and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Incase: Designer and manufacturer of laptop sleeves, backpacks, and tech accessories. Directly competes with Airtex's Acme Made sub-brand in the laptop sleeve and consumer electronics accessories category.

Broad incumbents

• Thule Group: Global Swedish manufacturer of bags, cases, and outdoor/transport solutions. Larger established competitor with overlapping OEM soft-goods capabilities for consumer electronics and automotive, and notable as the prior employer of multiple Airtex executives.

Emerging players

• Coyuchi: Premium organic home textile brand offering bedding, towels, and sleep products. Comparable to Airtex's higher-end custom home textile capabilities with similar focus on quality, design, and premium retail distribution channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/airtexgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Airtex