Using innovation & ingenuity to help during the COVID-19 pandemic
Grant | $95k
8
days to switch their manufacturing process
3,000+
face shields produced for hospitals
When you start an outdoor apparel company in Maine, you can’t help but invite comparisons with the state’s famous outdoor brand — L.L. Bean. But that never intimidated Flowfold. The Gorham-based manufacturer repurposes sailcloth to create rugged wallets, bags, totes and more, which have quickly become popular and have received widespread acclaim. Now they aren’t just being compared to L.L. Bean, they’re partnering with them. Last year, Flowfold had the rare privilege of helping to create a special edition Bean Boot.
While having their name on Maine’s most iconic footwear was an amazing achievement, helping out Maine’s most heroic workers has been their latest honor. During the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, Flowfold quickly shifted their manufacturing operations to make PPE (personal protective equipment) for frontline medical workers helping combat the pandemic.
It’s an effort that Flowfold CEO & Co-founder Devin McNeill said was possible, in part, thanks to MTI. “MTI’s investment in Flowfold supported the purchase of a CNC cutting machine which allowed us to quickly retool our manufacturing facility to make personal protective equipment for first responders at our local hospitals,” said McNeil. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without their support!”