Artistic Milliners Acquires Majority Stake in Cone Denim

New entity will operate globally under the iconic Cone Denim name

LOS ANGELES and GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Artistic Milliners, a global leader in denim innovation, today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Cone Denim from Elevate Textiles. The new multi-national company will operate under the historic Cone Denim name. Artistic Milliners' Pakistan operations and business will continue to operate independently. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.

Cone Denim will offer fully vertical, end-to-end solutions – ranging from premium denim fabric to expertly finished garments. "We are committed to bringing the full breadth of our expertise to help unlock Cone's competitive strengths. Cone Denim will preserve its unique identity while continuing to drive its own business strategy. Our goal is to collaborate closely with the Cone Denim team, building on the legacy and achievements of more than 130 years," said Murtaza Ahmed and Omer Ahmed of Artistic Milliners in a joint statement.

The new entity will operate a global platform spanning both hemispheres and will be comprised of a combination of selected assets from each organization. Cone Denim will now operate its existing mills in Parras and Yecapixtla, Mexico and its facility in Jiaxing, China; as well as Artistic Milliners' recently inaugurated garment facility in Parras, Mexico; and its Star Fades International (SFI) laundry and development center in Los Angeles.

The Ahmeds continued: "Cone Denim's distinctive position as the iconic American manufacturer joins Artistic Milliners' global portfolio, creating an international organization that leverages our collective infrastructure and expertise to offer customers unparalleled service and flexibility. Our multinational manufacturing locations will offer speed, scale and surety of supply."

Cone Denim will continue to operate as a standalone portfolio company under Artistic Milliners. Steve Maggard, President of Cone Denim, will lead the new entity, reporting to the Board of Directors, which includes Omer Ahmed, Murtaza Ahmed, and Jeffrey P. Pritchett alongside to-be-determined directors.

Pritchett, CEO and member of the Board of Directors, Elevate Textiles added, "We are excited to unite two global denim leaders with shared values furthering the Cone Denim name and legacy. Cone Denim and Artistic Milliners both possess long-standing textile heritage and are recognized worldwide for their commitment to innovation, traceability, and sustainability. They are both well respected, responsible, and ethical manufacturers. As the new Cone Denim, we are able to better leverage synergies across our brands, operations, and global footprint including the return of Cone Denim production capabilities in the US and expansion into new global regions."

Cone Denim and Artistic Milliners customers will continue to interact with their existing product and sales representatives and can anticipate the same high standard of service, delivery, and quality to be upheld.

"We remain committed to providing enhanced fabric variety, design innovation, and comprehensive garment services to our customers — this includes our planned expansion into North Africa," Maggard added.

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About Cone Denim
A leading denim innovator for more than 130 years, Cone Denim^®  delivers unparalleled expertise and advanced denim capabilities that service and inspire the global market. Cone promotes sustainable practices through its Sustainblue™ denim fabrics representing the highest standards in responsible manufacturing and Cone's commitment to making a positive impact in its communities. From performance denims and superior S GENE^® technology to vintage re-creations of Cone Deeptone Denim™ reaching back to the early 1900s, Cone offers unique collections of Performance, Stretch, Selvage, and Distilled Indigo™ denims crafted out of the Cone^®  3D R&D incubator. Cone Denim operates as part of Elevate Textiles, Inc., with manufacturing capabilities in Mexico and China and a global network of sales, product, and merchandising professionals based out of Greensboro, N.C., New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. To learn more, visit us at conedenim.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook or elevatetextiles.com.

About Artistic Milliners
Artistic Milliners (AM) is a global business conglomerate that, under its chairman Yaqoob Ahmed, has evolved from its textile roots into diversified industries. Renowned for its deep-rooted commitment to excellence, sustainability and innovation, the company operates 17 state-of-the-art facilities in Pakistan, along with four international sourcing and manufacturing hubs in Mexico (AM Mexico) and the United States (Star Fades International). Through Artistic Energy and Artistic Wind Power, the Group contributes more than 100 MW of renewable energy to the grid, reinforcing its long-term sustainability vision.
Taking a holistic approach, AM has built a vertical ecosystem that spans the entire apparel value chain from cotton production to garment manufacturing, while pioneering a circular model of material usage. This integrated approach ensures sustainable innovation at every stage, cementing its position as a global leader in responsible manufacturing and forward-looking business practices. To learn more, visit us at artisticmilliners.com and LinkedIn or follow us on Instagram.

About Elevate Textiles
Elevate Textiles offers distinguished global textile brands including American & Efird, Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components. With a global array of premium fabric and thread solutions focused on innovation, sustainability, and quality craftsmanship, Elevate and its portfolio brands provide products that surround us every day and in all facets of life. We offer advanced, high-quality products and mission critical textile solutions across vast industries including fashion and functional apparel, footwear, military, fire, medical, athletic, automotive, aerospace, outdoor, and other specialty sectors. Elevate is committed to delivering solutions that protect and enhance our lives through its global manufacturing platform. To learn more about Elevate Textiles and our brands, visit elevatetextiles.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Elevate Textiles