Flowfold, a Gorham-based company which focuses on manufacturing innovative, specialized casual and outdoor gear using recycled sailcloth and other high-tech fabric has recently attained two notable achievements in its development as a new entrant in Maine’s small business environment. Flowfold was founded on Peaks Island in 2010 by Charles Friedman and three friends whom he met while attending the University of Maine in Orono.
Now based in the Gorham Industrial Park after a move from Scarborough early this year, the company was honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration in late 2018 for the innovative products it had introduced up to that point, as well as its emphasis on recycling, the environment, and its commitment to manufacturing high quality, American-made products.
CEO James Morin said, “Our offices in Scarborough weren’t optimized for manufacturing and our R&D needs. In the beginning, we weren’t specifically looking to buy in Gorham. The building itself wasn’t ideal for our brand. It was designed for small offices and cold storage so it was a little dark and dusty. We worked with Maine Manufacturing Extension partnership to optimize our floor layout and created a new lean manufacturing system based on Japanese Kanban (Just in Time) principles. All said, we couldn’t be happier about being in Gorham and will be staying here for the long haul.”
Photos courtesy of FlowfoldThe Flowfold team is shown with samples of the new L.L. Bean Boot being manufactured using the Gorham company’s exclusive X-Pac sailcloth-type fabric.
Flowfold’s line of rugged, lightweight products include specialized wallets, ultralight backpacks, tote bags, duffle bags, dog collars, and dog leashes. Altogether, the company, which currently employs eight full time employees in Gorham, has about thirty product lines. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of the company’s fabrics are made from recycled sailcloth. The rest is sourced from a contract manufacturer in Connecticut. All of Flowfold’s products are made by hand.
On March 3, Flowfold was chosen as one of the three finalists in the annual Greenlight Maine “pitch-off” competition. This year’s live pitch-off will take place on Saturday, March 23, at the University of Maine’s Hauck Auditorium in Orono. The winning company will receive a $100,000 cash prize and will be featured the following day on Greenlight Maine’s regular Sunday morning television show.
Another significant achievement for Flowfold took place on February 28, when L.L. Bean, who had been selling a number of Flowfold’s other products since 2015, announced that it would be partnering with Flowfold to create and sell a specialized version of Bean’s signature Bean Boot. This is the first co-branded Bean Boot since the company’s founder, Leon Leonwood Bean, began making and selling the Maine Hunting Shoe in 1912.
The new line of co-branded Bean Boots utilizes Flowfold’s exclusive X-Pac sailcloth-type fabric, which has specialized water resistant, lightweight properties. The line also features different styles and colors, compared to L.L. Bean’s more traditional Bean Boots.
In a recent press release, Tom Armstrong, L.L. Bean’s chief merchandising officer said, “L.L. Bean Boots remain highly relevant today because of how innovative they were when L.L. first designed them. We’re always proud to continue that legacy of innovation with products designed for everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and the collaboration is an exciting new step for both Bean Boots and our partnership with Flowfold.”
Morin commented, “We’ve brought together innovation and tradition in one of the outdoor industry’s most iconic products. These boots look and feel like no other Bean Boot, and yet they’re authentic to both brands. Collaborations like this are exactly what our industry needs to stay fresh, and we are humbled to be part of the design history of this globally recognized footwear.”