Cushion Pros

Spalding Knitting Mills was founded by Robert Paine Shapard in 1921. It began in Griffin, Georgia with the initial products being children’s knit socks. From that beginning, American Throwing Company was developed by R.P. Shapard, Jr. in 1938. The purpose of American Throwing Company was to throw or twist raw silk into yarn for use in the hosiery industry. This continued until 1941 when an embargo was placed on all raw silk coming into the United States from Japan. American Throwing Co. was selected by DuPont for experimentation and development of a new yarn for use in stockings. This yarn is now known as nylon.

When war was declared in 1941, nylon was frozen and was to be used exclusively in parachutes. In 1942 American Throwing Co. made the decision to enter the war effort. American Throwing Co. was awarded a contract to produce 40 M.M. anti-aircraft projectiles and produced 25% of all 40 M.M. Projectiles used during the war. Actual production began in 1942 and continued until 1945 when all defense contracts were cancelled.

At that point, R.P. Shapard, Jr. made the decision to manufacture infant’s knit underwear. The company then began to operate under the corporate name of American Mills, Inc. In 1954, American Mills, Inc. realized the value of Sears Roebuck as a major customer and began to operate as a partner with Sears under their basic contract.

In 1957 Fashion Pillows was created in order to manufacture decorative pillows under the Sears label. Also, from the Sears partnership, an additional division was created in 1976 by William Shapard, Sr. Fashion Industries was created to manufacture table linens for Sears. This relationship with Sears continued into the mid 1980’s. American Mills, Inc. then sold their underwear division to Dundee Mills and began to expand their customer base. Fashion Industries and Fashion Pillows were merged in 1998.

Today American Mills, Inc. produces and imports products including: decorative pillows, indoor/outdoor cushions, table linens, indoor/outdoor rugs, pet beds, and plush animals. We currently employ 150 people and have over three hundred thousand square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space in Griffin, Georgia. Our product lines are shown in our permanent showroom at 7 West in New York.

American Mills, Inc. continues to manufacture and import home textiles under the direction of Bill Shapard, Jr.