A History of Tufted Rugs

Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Shaw Industries Group

Shaw Industries Group

Company · not yet checked at the source · Image permission pending

Made by
Clarence Shaw; sons Robert (Bob) and J. C. (Bud) Shaw
Date
founded 1946 (as Star Dye Co.)
Place
Dalton, Georgia
Held by
Shaw Industries Group
Themes
Companies & modern tufting, Machine tufting & Dalton, Nylon & synthetic fibers (DuPont)

Cite this source

Clarence Shaw; sons Robert (Bob) and J. C. (Bud) Shaw. “Shaw Industries Group,” founded 1946 (as Star Dye Co.). Shaw Industries Group. shawinc.com/Our-Company/History.

Research notes

Began dyeing small tufted goods (bedspreads, scatter rugs) during Dalton's chenille boom, then became the world's largest commission finisher of tufted carpet as Star Finishing Co. A 1967 holding company bought Philadelphia Carpet Co. (founded 1846), Shaw's first move into making carpet; public as Shaw Industries in 1971; first yarn plant 1972; acquisitions included West Point-Pepperell's carpet business (1987), Salem (1992) and Queen (1999). Owned by Berkshire Hathaway since 2001. Shaw Rugs also made licensed "Winterthur Collection" nylon area rugs (see that record). Dates: 1946 Star Dye confirmed; Star Finishing 1958 (Shaw) vs 1960 (Georgia Encyclopedia); 1967 is the holding company, not the origin. "World's largest carpet manufacturer" dates from 1987; don't repeat it as current. Other pages with images: https://shawfloors.com/why-shaw/about-us/shaw-timeline · https://shawinc.com/50years/shaw-stories · https://shawinc.com/Our-Impact/Sustainability/Our-Process Independent sources: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/shaw-industries · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaw_Industries · Randall L. Patton, Shaw Industries: A History (University of Georgia Press, 2019)