- 2025
- Receives the EcoVadis Gold sustainability rating for the fourth consecutive year, placing Milliken in the top 5% of organizations rated
- 2025
- Ethisphere recognizes Milliken as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the 19th consecutive year
- 2025
- Becomes first textile manufacturer to offer PFAS-free materials for every layer of firefighter turnout gear
- 2025
- R&D 100 recognizes Milliken Assure™ as one of the top 100 global innovations, marking more than 10 Milliken innovations awarded
- 2023
- Joins forces with Pan Era Group to promote circular economy in Indonesia
- 2023
- Launches OVIK Health and rebrands healthcare business as strategic enabler
- 2023
- Becomes exclusive manufacturing partner of Orak, a Paris-based carpet maintenance and flooring reuse company
- 2023
- Westex®: A Milliken Brand partners with Dovetail Workwear to launch Women at Work
- 2022
- Partners with PureCycle to advance circularity using recycled polypropylene resin
- 2021
- Partners with The Recycling Partnership and The Walmart Foundation to create the Center for Behavioral Change, funded in part by the Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation
- 2021
- Acquires Encapsys, a leader in micro-encapsulation technology
- 2021
- Launches M/PACT™ to offset carbon for Milliken flooring products around the globe
- 2021
- Founds the Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation
- 2020
- Acquires Borchers, a global specialty chemicals company
- 2020
- Joins The Recycling Partnership, a polypropylene recycling coalition to help ensure a circular future
- 2019
- Creates the Healthcare operating division, following the acquisition of Andover Healthcare
- 2019
- Acquires Polartec, a leading outdoor textile brand
- 2019
- Signs the UN Global Pact, commiting to achieve 2025 sustainability goals and publishing 1st corporate sustainability report
- 2018
- Names Halsey M. Cook, Jr. as President and CEO, the first non-associate and non-family member to serve in this role
Milliken History
HISTORY
Curious minds create inspired solutions
From humble beginnings in 1865 as a general store to a global manufacturing leader today, we never stop evolving. We imagine what a better world could look like, then we roll up our sleeves and work to make the things that once seemed impossible possible. Curiosity sparked this company and continues to be the force that drives us toward a better future.
STRIVING FOR TOMORROW
2020-Present
At Milliken, our leadership is based on integrity. Through forward-thinking innovation and purposeful partnerships, we drive towards continuous improvement and responsible manufacturing.
RAISING THE BAR ON EXCELLENCE
1980-2020
Milliken’s passion for continuously raising the bar through innovative thinking is evident during this period, with a strong focus on operational excellence and customer-centricity. The proof is in the results as the company becomes a recognized global manufacturing leader and a trusted partner.
- 2020
- Acquires Borchers, a global specialty chemicals company
- 2020
- Joins The Recycling Partnership, a polypropylene recycling coalition working toward industry circularity
- 2019
- Creates the Healthcare operating division, following the acquisition of Andover Healthcare
- 2019
- Acquires Polartec, a leading outdoor textile brand
- 2019
- Signs the U.N. Global Pact, committing to achieve 2025 sustainability goals and publishing first corporate sustainability report
- 2018
- Names Halsey M. Cook, Jr. as President and CEO, the first non-family member to serve in this role
- 2017
- Inducted into the America’s Safest Companies Hall of Fame—a validation of our longstanding commitment to safety
- 2014
- Acquires Westex, strengthening capabilities to deliver the most innovative fabrics to the FR industry
- 2007
- Launches new manufacturing consultancy business, Performance Solutions by Milliken
- 2007
- Ethisphere recognizes Milliken as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the first time
- 1989
- Wins the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Award, followed by the European Quality Award—two distinguishing recognitions of investment in operational excellence
- 1988
- Invests in the future of its chemical business with new manufacturing facility in Blacksburg, South Carolina
- 1982
- Showcases customer focus with the opening of a new Customer Center at Spartanburg, South Carolina headquarters
- 1981
- Launches Pursuit of Excellence (POE) program, a transformational shift focusing on customer satisfaction at all levels and locations throughout the company
THE COURAGE TO THINK BIG
1947-1979
Under the leadership of Roger Milliken, the company begins a long period of prosperity as Milliken’s team of curious minds envisions future success through research and technology innovation.
- 1973
- Engineers Millitron®, the first, large-scale digital printer for carpet, revolutionizing the industry
- 1971
- Deering Milliken becomes Milliken & Company
- 1968
- Acquires Calloway Mills, entering the carpet business
- 1965
- Expands into Europe with the acquisition of operations and offices in England, France, and Belgium
- 1963
- Acquires chemical operations, adding important future capability to product offerings
- 1958
- Moves headquarters to Spartanburg, South Carolina, building a state-of-the-art facility that includes a dedicated research center
- 1947
- Names Roger Milliken as President, succeeding his father and shifting the company from a selling agent to a manufacturer, beginning more than 60 years of leadership under Roger Milliken
INNOVATIONS IN TEXTILES
1920-1947
By the early 20th century, Milliken moved from an investor in textile mills to a manufacturer, bringing breakthrough innovations to the industry, pioneering synthetic fibers and revolutionizing textile production by rethinking the supply chain and manufacturing processes.
- 1945
- Invests in innovation, founding the Milliken Research Corporation, where one of the company’s most successful first innovations, Agilon®, is created and redefines the future of women’s hosiery
- 1944
- Builds the first textile manufacturing site with air cleaning and cooling to manufacture tire cord from nylon, setting a new standard for manufacturing facility design
- 1939-1945
- Creates demand during World War II for more durable textiles and leads the industry in the development of synthetics for the military
- 1927
- Obtains first patent for adding wheels and reinforcements to a commercial laundry basket that enables greater operational efficiency, marking a watershed moment as the first of thousands of patents Milliken holds today
SPARKED BY CURIOSITY
1865-1920
It all began as a small endeavor, sparked by a desire to deliver solutions that serve customers with excellence and help communities prosper.
- 1920
- Names Gerrish Milliken, Sr. as President, succeeding his father, and ushering in the second generation of family leadership of the company
- 1901
- Develops first recycling policy, focusing on reusing packaging and textile materials
- 1884
- Invests in a new textile manufacturing facility in Pacolet, South Carolina, as well as more than 42 mills, helping develop the booming textile industry in the South
- 1868
- Moves headquarters to its first location in New York City
- 1865
- Seth M. Milliken, operator of a general store in Minot, Maine, partners with William Deering to open Deering Milliken, a woolen fabric distributor and sales agent for textile mills in Portland, Maine