Key Takeaways
- • Paradigm Equity Partners has acquired STI Fabrics, a Kings Mountain, North Carolina-based maker of stain-resistant upholstery and outdoor fabrics with more than 400 employees, according to the primary source.
- • STI's Revolution fabrics are woven from upcycled olefin and rely on fiber-based rather than chemical-coating stain resistance, and STI states its process does not use PFAS.
- • The US upholstery fabric market was worth about $11.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $14.7 billion by 2033, a CAGR of roughly 3.4%, per Cognitive Market Research.
- • Paradigm, a Los Angeles-based lower middle-market firm founded in 2022 and led by Roman Zelinsky, targets companies with revenues of $40 million to $500 million and enterprise values of up to $150 million.
- • Paradigm plans to improve manufacturing efficiency, expand STI's outdoor furniture and interior designer sales, and pursue complementary acquisitions.
Summary
Paradigm Equity Partners has acquired STI Fabrics (STI), a maker of stain-resistant fabric used to cover sofas, chairs and patio furniture. STI designs, weaves and finishes upholstery fabrics sold to furniture manufacturers, retailers and interior designers. The company sells under two brands: Revolution Performance Fabrics, which includes indoor upholstery and the Revolution Outdoor line, and Brentwood Textiles. It also sells fabric by the yard through its Revolution Cut Yardage program.
Revolution fabrics, introduced in March 2014, are woven from olefin, a polypropylene fiber made from upcycled materials, with yarn sourced within 300 miles of the mill. According to STI, stain resistance comes from the fiber itself rather than chemical coatings, the fabric is machine washable and can be cleaned with bleach, and its manufacturing does not use PFAS. STI points to California's 2021 legislation beginning to ban PFAS in manufacturing as context for demand for such finishes. STI provides separate warranties for indoor and outdoor products.
Founded in 1964, STI has repeatedly changed its product focus, starting with velvet for residential furniture and recreational vehicles, moving into aircraft, rail and bus fabrics in the early 1990s, and returning to residential furniture later. STI is headquartered in Kings Mountain, about 30 miles west of Charlotte, and is led by CEO Sean Gibbons, with Anderson Gibbons serving as chief marketing officer.
Roman Zelinsky, founder and managing partner of Paradigm, said STI has built deep customer relationships and a differentiated position in American textile manufacturing. Paradigm plans to strengthen operations, invest in the business, expand outdoor furniture and interior designer sales, and pursue complementary acquisitions. Paradigm, founded in 2022 and based in Los Angeles, invests in lower middle-market companies with revenues of $40 million to $500 million and enterprise values up to $150 million, specializing in carve-outs and restructurings. STI competes with domestic makers including Culp, Glen Raven and Valdese Weavers, as well as Crypton, which has been majority-owned by Berkley Capital since 2017.
Cognitive Market Research attributes projected US upholstery fabric demand growth to housing and remodeling activity and steady commercial purchasing by offices, hotels and healthcare facilities. The primary source does not disclose the transaction value.
Revolution fabrics, introduced in March 2014, are woven from olefin, a polypropylene fiber made from upcycled materials, with yarn sourced within 300 miles of the mill. According to STI, stain resistance comes from the fiber itself rather than chemical coatings, the fabric is machine washable and can be cleaned with bleach, and its manufacturing does not use PFAS. STI points to California's 2021 legislation beginning to ban PFAS in manufacturing as context for demand for such finishes. STI provides separate warranties for indoor and outdoor products.
Founded in 1964, STI has repeatedly changed its product focus, starting with velvet for residential furniture and recreational vehicles, moving into aircraft, rail and bus fabrics in the early 1990s, and returning to residential furniture later. STI is headquartered in Kings Mountain, about 30 miles west of Charlotte, and is led by CEO Sean Gibbons, with Anderson Gibbons serving as chief marketing officer.
Roman Zelinsky, founder and managing partner of Paradigm, said STI has built deep customer relationships and a differentiated position in American textile manufacturing. Paradigm plans to strengthen operations, invest in the business, expand outdoor furniture and interior designer sales, and pursue complementary acquisitions. Paradigm, founded in 2022 and based in Los Angeles, invests in lower middle-market companies with revenues of $40 million to $500 million and enterprise values up to $150 million, specializing in carve-outs and restructurings. STI competes with domestic makers including Culp, Glen Raven and Valdese Weavers, as well as Crypton, which has been majority-owned by Berkley Capital since 2017.
Cognitive Market Research attributes projected US upholstery fabric demand growth to housing and remodeling activity and steady commercial purchasing by offices, hotels and healthcare facilities. The primary source does not disclose the transaction value.
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