Textile Insight

M MI Textiles recently celebrated its 26th anniversary. And what a journey it has been! Amy Bircher Bruyn, the company's CEO & founder, has led the business throughout its evolution – from its start in 1997 as a manufacturer's rep to the full-service textile converting, manufacturing and distribution company that it is today. A progressive outlook, the ability to hurdle obstacles to innovation, and a strong belief in the power of partnerships all factor into how MMI Textiles has managed to grow and succeed despite the textile industry facing difficult times over the last 20+ years and especially during the pandemic. "Part of MMI's success is that we build resilience into our business as a whole, not necessarily in specific products, but in categories or situations," explains Bircher Bruyn. "We look to reframe barriers as opportunities by taking each roadblock or challenge and analyzing how we can best overcome it." Forming strong supply chain partnerships is one example of the Ohio-based company's multi-prong approach to steady growth. Other examples include building a North Carolina facility to address a void in the market and investing in distribution chains to service smaller volume opportunities, helping to develop large successful brands. Successful Converting e converting leg of MMI's business is based on both long-term partnerships within the supply chain, and the addition of unique manufacturers capable of meeting specialized needs in the product development chain. "We have partner mills that spin, weave, knit, dye, print, finish, coat and laminate for us, and those partners are extremely important to us as we continue to grow," states Mary Reardon, VP of Textile Innovation, who joined MMI in January 2022 and has a deep background in the textile industry. "MMI's entire team recognizes the value of the supply chain and works to ensure those relationships are mutually beneficial to all involved in each finished fabric." MMI Textiles created CT Edge narrow fabrics in 2016, a development Passionate About Being Progressive in the Textile Industry. MADE IN AMERICA / MMI TEXTILES 54 • Textile Insight ~ Fall 2023 textileinsight.com Powering Partnerships & Innovation MMI Textiles supply chain, from yarn through finishing, includes printing and lamination. Shown here: SAM1 OCP laminated to Coyote EcoThriv Willow. "We look to reframe barriers as opportunities by taking each roadblock or challenge and analyzing how we can best overcome it." AMY BIRCHER BRUYN, MMI

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