Swavelle, A Converter Buys Wearbest Sil-Test Mills Ltd. Mills From Gasner Family, Fourth Generation Owners
March 1, 2019
NEW YORK--Swavelle Fabrics Inc., a major U.S. converter based in New York with a warehouse in Lasdon, S.C. has purchased Wearbest Mills, Inc., the Garfield, New Jersey-based contract weaver, and the makers of BellaDura indoor/outdoor fabrics. The Wearbest contract fabrics business began in 1990. The mill itself started up in the 1940’s when Phillip Gasner went into the garment linings business.
Irwin Gasner, third generation owner of Wearbest and (grandson of the founder) and Jeff Thomases, owner of Swavelle sealed their deal in February.
Neither was available for comment at this time. Ari Gasner, President of Wearbest (Irwin’s son) was also not available for comment. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Wearbest was one of the last mills based in New Jersey and was operated by several generations of the Gasner family. "If you haven’t been in the mill business before, you’re in for a big surprise,” says Len Gliner, former owner of Jacquard Fabrics, also in New Jersey. “If you lose key people in the mill business today, you can’t easily replace them. Without those mill people, you can’t operate the mill.” Swavelle is an important supplier in the contract fabric business and Wearbest could be a plus for Swavelle in supplying this market.
Irwin Gasner, third generation owner of Wearbest and (grandson of the founder) and Jeff Thomases, owner of Swavelle sealed their deal in February.
Neither was available for comment at this time. Ari Gasner, President of Wearbest (Irwin’s son) was also not available for comment. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Wearbest was one of the last mills based in New Jersey and was operated by several generations of the Gasner family. "If you haven’t been in the mill business before, you’re in for a big surprise,” says Len Gliner, former owner of Jacquard Fabrics, also in New Jersey. “If you lose key people in the mill business today, you can’t easily replace them. Without those mill people, you can’t operate the mill.” Swavelle is an important supplier in the contract fabric business and Wearbest could be a plus for Swavelle in supplying this market.
