Timeline of our History

1960 – Mitchell Fabrics was started by Robert Flavius in Peoria, IL, named after his son, Mitchell.  Beginning as a retail storefront, it later transitioned to a wholesaler of decorative fabric to the drapery design industry, with a strong presence in the Midwest.  Mitchell’s prided itself on being “a cut above the rest”, a mantra on which the business was built, and backed up with customer service and quality fabrics.  

1961 – Walter Reece, a furniture upholsterer by trade, opened up Creative Fabrics, Inc. in Hewitt, TX after realizing very few companies offered fabrics at wholesale in the Southwest region.   Sixteen years later, it was purchased by his daughter and her husband, Patsy and Tom Robb, Sr. and eventually included their sons, Tom Jr. and Matt.  With a broad range of fabrics in many categories, Creative expanded its product line to include drapery hardware, Tableaux®, and a new panel program.

1968 – Michaels Textiles was formed by Joel Lessem in New Jersey after he took over his father’s fabric wholesale business.  Michaels Textiles built a strong and loyal customer base as it carved out its niche in the industry with offering fabric “basics” at affordable prices.  Following continued years of growth, in 1990 the business was moved to Petersburg, VA.  

2014 – Mitchell Fabrics was purchased and relocated from Peoria, IL to a new distribution center in Lafayette, IN.  Operating under the same premise of the original founders, Mitchell’s remained committed to a high level of customer service, quality, on-trend fabrics and other products to the design trade.

2015 – Mitchell Fabrics acquired Michaels Textiles, combining forces to become Mitchell Fabrics & Michaels Textiles.  Michaels complemented the Mitchell fabric line by increasing our breadth of fabric lines and added a greater market presence throughout the East and Southeast areas of the country.  Michaels Textiles closed their operation in Virginia and was completely relocated to Lafayette, IN.

2016 – Mitchell Fabrics acquired Creative Fabrics, Inc., a third-generation fabric wholesaler in Hewitt, TX.  Creative Fabrics increases our presence in the Southwest corridor and expands our product line with new and innovative products and programs available to our design professionals.  Creative Fabrics moved its warehouse to Indiana and the product line is now being distributed under the Mitchell Fabrics name.

2018 – After successfully merging three companies into one, the company re-introduced itself to the design industry under the Mitchell Fabrics name with an expanded product line and a focus on quality, value, and an exceptional level of personalized care tailored to our design customers.