Koch and Kohler buying weaver LA Mills
Susan M. Andrews -- Furniture Today, September 27, 2004
LOS ANGELES -- Textile designer Michael Koch and his partner, Andrew Kohler, are buying LA Mills, a dobby weaving business here that sells to such upholstery fabric suppliers as Kravet, Robert Allen, Pindler and Kreiss.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.The 25,000-square-foot mill houses about 35 looms of various types and employs 22 people. It also has a yarn spinning operation.Koch said he plans to retain the current sales force if possible and may add more representation in the South.
Designs for LA Mills will be produced through Michael Koch Designs, launched after Koch left Wearbest Sil-Tex in 2002.The design studio will be moved to Los Angeles and Koch will continue to work with clients like Raxon, which will be making a push into the residential market at January's Showtime in High Point."When I left Wearbest, it was about opening myself up to new opportunities," Koch said. "I started my own studio and I have a silk collection (for Indian mill Chamundi) and I've been involved with a hand-woven textiles project as well. It's all definitely been about achieving a diversity of spirit within design. "So when a friend said to us, 'Please do something to help this mill. It's been in the family since the owner was a kid,' we looked at each other and said, 'Let's buy it!'"Bill Meyer, whose father founded the company in 1962, will stay on indefinitely to assist in the transition.
"The company has a good, solid customer base and we will just work to amplify it and develop greater volume," Koch said.Kohler will handle the operations and Koch will take care of design and sales and marketing.Koch said LA Mills eventually may show at Showtime in High Point, but that "during this first phase, we will need to get up and running and work directly with our current customers."
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Koch and Kohler buying weaver LA Mills
Oct 10, 2004
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