Long before it was bought by Interface or became part of True Textiles, Guilford of Maine was making a great name for itself in the contract furniture industry. Since all that heritage and progress carries through to this day, we decided that so should the famous name.
Today, Guilford of Maine is the brand name for all True Textiles open line fabrics. As a mill, we are unique in offering our own distribution to hundreds of furniture manufacturers, remanufacturers and makers of other products including acoustical panels. Our open line fabrics are also offered through countless jobbers and distributors. We distribute all of our own sampling, as well as partner with customers to do custom card work.
Guilford of Maine continues to set the standard for environmental responsibility, helping you on your sustainability journey. Fully 98% of our open line panel fabrics are now Terratex® products made entirely of recycled polyester or bio-based yarns. Our goal is to offer every single Guilford of Maine fabric as Terratex.
History
The first Guilford of Maine mill opened in 1943 on the banks of the Piscataquis River. From the earliest days, the company was committed to ongoing modernization, allowing it to offer beautiful and enduring fabrics at competitive prices. Our business with office furniture makers surged in the 1970s thanks to our ability to offer fabrics with highly effective fire-retardants. Guilford of Maine became the contract furniture industry’s best-selling and most highly regarded fabrics brand. After joining other mills to form the Interface Fabrics Group in 1985, Guilford of Maine and its sister mills have been reestablished as an independent company named True Textiles, Inc.
Sustainability
Guilford of Maine is constantly working to increase the recycled content of our fabrics so that less virgin material – especially petroleum – is needed to make them. Our Terratex® line continues to set the industry standards for environmentally friendly fabrics that break the “take-make-waste” cycle. Fully 98% of our open line panel fabrics are now Terratex products.
Services
Guilford of Maine offers a wide range of services that make our fabrics even better for what customers do, saving them considerable time, trouble and money.
We can coat our fabrics – front and back – with different solutions and substances for different purposes. We offer foam or nonwoven polyester backing to improve fabric stabilization during manufacturing and opacity (as well as acoustic performance) in use. We can laminate with moisture-barriers to keep fluids from penetrating upholstery, and apply soil-resistant topical finishes to protect fabrics from stains.
Guilford of Maine has long been known as the industry’s leading supplier of cut-to-size fabrics. We offer exact yardage, specific dimensions and full rolls. All of our cut-to-size fabrics are guaranteed 100% usable and flaw-free. Similarly, we also offer fabrics with pre-applied, heat-activated adhesives that save customers from the expense and health risks of melting, mixing and applying adhesives themselves.
Going Forward
There’s much more to tell you about Guilford of Maine – from how far we’re going to be more sustainable, to where to find your nearest rep. We’re developing a separate site just to cover everything you want to know about Guilford of Maine. Check back here for the link.