Our Story

We are an interior furnishings company that designs and distributes fabric, trimmings, and wallpapers together with custom window treatments and drapery hardware.

Stout Textiles was founded in 1927 by brothers Charles and Harry Stout. Four generations later, the company is still in family hands and is located only a few minutes from its original birthplace of Philadelphia. It began as an upholstery supply shop during the early 20th century in center city Philadelphia but quickly changed its offerings to appeal to the rapid rise of interior decorating.

Over the last several decades, we have expanded our company through acquisitions and diversifying our product offerings. While designs and styles have changed over time, our core values never have. Integrity, fairness, and approachability are the guiding factors in everything we do.


A Brief History of Stout
Stout’s first location in Philadelphia
Brothers Charles and Harry
1927
Stout Brothers Co., Inc. (now Stout Textiles) is founded by Charles and his brother Harry (Stober Sr.), in Philadelphia, PA. The business started off selling everything from fabrics to drapery rods to cabinet hardware and even upholstery tools.
1950's
In the mid 1950’s the 2nd Generation entered the business. Stober Stout Jr. and Jack Greenawalt, Stober Sr.’s son-in-law, started their journey of expanding Stout’s customer base outside of Philadelphia and their regional expansion began. By 1957 Jack and Stober Jr. were running the family business and realized there was a shortage of upholstery apprenticeships in the area. They concluded that Stout needed to change their product offering into decorative fabrics with an emphasis on draperies in order to stay relevant. During this time interior decorating was rapidly on the rise and decorative fabrics were becoming more popular, especially around the windows.
1960's
During the 1960’s and 1970’s Stout would again move locations three more times in order to accommodate their expanding inventory of decorative fabrics. Each move would double capacity allowing Stout to vastly expand their fabric offerings.
1970's
In the 1970’s the 3rd generation began entering the business and it was at this time that Stout began their national expansion towards the west coast. In 1974 Stout moved out Philadelphia and into the suburbs where land was available to once again expand their warehouse. Upholstery supplies were becoming less popular and Stout decided to focus on filling their new shelves with textiles instead.

In 1979 Stout acquires S.J. Battler, a fabric competitor from Cleveland, OH. The strategic purchase allowed servicing of central and western states more effectively by lower shipping costs and faster delivery.

1990's
In the early 1990’s the 3rd generation recognized the higher-end designer was on the rise and therefore Stout needed to ‘scale-up’ its look again in order to follow these trends. A major product shift started to happen and exclusive fabrics and trimmings were the fastest growing category over the next decade. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s the 4th generation began entering the family business. Stout continued their efforts in exclusive product development and began expanding into foreign markets and national showrooms.
2013
Stout introduced a new division of very high-end fabrics with the launch of Marcus William. Rich and saturated colors adorn this range of luxuriously constructed fabrics making Marcus William the pinnacle of modern glamour. Our extensive network of international fabric mills work tirelessly to execute these unique patterned, textured, and woven textiles.
2019
Stout acquires Bassett McNab, a high-end distributor of classically designed fabrics and wall coverings founded in 1894. Best known for traditional florals, chinoiserie, and classic toiles that adorned many homes in the twentieth century, Bassett McNab joined the Stout family of brands in 2019. The subsequent Bassett McNab relaunch combined two Philadelphia family brands that are rich in textile history. The updated brand aesthetic stay true to Bassett McNab’s enduring appeal while bringing to life the relaxed luxury that appeals to today’s high-end traditional buyer.
Now
Stout continues to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of interior design by coming out with new and beautiful products every season. The 3rd and 4th generations are very much involved with the business and continue to build on the legacy that was started 96 years ago as one of the industry’s oldest run family companies.