Chicago, Ill–Mitchell Group forges ahead with highly technical coated fabric imports from Asia in spite of high tariffs on the category.
Mitchell is owned and was started in 2009 by Bill Fisch, President and his wife Ann, CEO. Bill is the colorist and is a second generation owner of the business which originally began with his father and then was reinvented when Ann joined the company 25 years ago.
Mitchell produces its own proprietary designs as well as its customers’ designs for digitally printed and rotogravure printed vinyls on three substrates which it sells to 25 plus distributors in the USA. The price of the line to the distributor starts at $3.95 for the vinyls and all the way up to $35.95 for the most technical polyurethane items.
Mitchell says it is developing a net zero platform for its product line as well as solvent free polyurethanes. One of Its most important name brand is Sta*Kleen ®
Mitchell’s sole focus is on the commercial market, especially hospitality although some of its products end up in residential applications. “We focus on what matters to our customers: clean, sustainable coated fabrics,” says Brunett.
“We focus on R&D because our customers consistently require better, stronger performance,” she points out. Her customers number in the 25 range. These are distributors throughout the USA who sell to the contract/hospitality specifier.
Recently, Mitchell introduced NetZero ® Bio, a category which Brunett says is the next evolution in sustainable coated textiles. “It is engineered with bio-attributed polyurethane made with Susterra ® PDO, our exclusive Hydro Sil (™) finish and a GRS transaction certified recycled polyester,” Brunett says. NetZERO ® Bio is said to deliver a level of renewable chemistry and solvent-free production second to none. Mitchell says it delivers performance without compromising environmental responsibility.