Bristol’s American Merchant weaves success with bath towels, Rep. Griffith tours facility

Have you ever wondered where your towels are made?

One of the leading American made bath towel production facilities is called American Merchant, and it’s located in Bristol, Virginia.

Beginning with raw yarn, employees weave, dye and come out with a finished product that is used by consumers daily.

“We make the American Made bath towels,” said David Ortega, plant manager, American Merchant. “We use 100% American cotton, we’ve never used any other cotton, we’ve never sourced from outside the country.”

The facility started shipping towels in 2020, with products made on state-of-the-art equipment.

Congressman Morgan Griffith, of Virginia, was able to get an inside look at the plant on Tuesday.

“I like touring factories,” said Griffith. “I like asking questions and learning things.”

Griffith says facilities like this play a critical role when it comes to economic development.

“With that Made in America, they are only one of two in the country, so if you buy it, there’s a good chance you are buying from right here in Bristol,” said Griffith. “They buy all kinds of American products, so you have American products, you have American workers, and it just helps all the way around. Whether it is in Virginia, or in Tennessee, it helps us as a community to have jobs like this and facilities like this.”

American Merchant currently employees 53 people, and just added a second shift.

“We’ve seen our business increase over the last year pretty good,” said Ortega. “We have started up a weekend weaving shift.”

“They are now able to find the workers, once COVID got through, they were able to find the workers they need,” added Griffith. “Hopefully, they will need a third shift.”

With personnel also hoping to educate consumers.

“Maybe people didn’t know about American Made bath towels,” said Ortega. “How many people honestly look where a towel is made?”

“It’s good to see American products being made in the United States of America,” added Griffith. “A lot of times, people go to the store and they are just looking at prices, they are not looking at the fact that maybe their neighbor down the street helps to make these towels, and maybe they should be looking for that Made in America.”