SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Milliken & Company acquired King America, a Chicago based home furnishings fabric converter in Chicago on May 9.

KingAmerica was  a domestic converter of ducks, twills and denims used in the home fabrics industry for sale to jobbers and retailers. The real prize and target for Milliken was the acquisition of Westex, Inc., a sister company to KingAmerica owned by the same management according to Dan Baker, President of King America, also in Chicago.

The name KingAmerica will be changed to Milliken,” says Dan Baker, President of KingAmerica who will continue in a similar capacity in the new set-up.

However, the real prize and target for Milliken was the acquisition of Westex, Inc., a sister company to KingAmerica owned by the same management according to Baker.  

The KingAmerica purchase puts Milliken back into the residential fabrics industry for the first time in many years although it has a continued presence in hospitality fabrics.

The Westex acquisition strengthens Milliken’s commitment to providing “superior flame-resistant (FR) fabrics for protective clothing,” a Milliken spokesman said.

However, the purchase of KingAmerica may very well lead to a new range of performance type home fabrics marketed under the Milliken name.