About the Organization
American & Efird (A&E) is one of the world's foremost thread manufacturers, with a heritage stretching back well over a century. Established in 1891, A&E is one of the world's leading manufacturers of sewing threads and industrial yarns, with roots that go back even further, to the days of water wheels in the 1890s. The company took its present name through a mid-century merger: after American Yarn Processing and Efird Manufacturing completed their merger in 1952, the company name changed to American & Efird Mills, Inc.
Today A&E operates as a truly global enterprise. Through its global network, A&E's products are manufactured in 22 countries, distributed in 50 countries, and sold in over 100 countries, and it ranks as the largest supplier of sewing thread and specialty yarns in the US and the second largest supplier in the world. The company is part of a larger textile group: A&E operates as part of Elevate Textiles, a portfolio of leading textile brands that also includes Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann, and Safety Components. It has long maintained a strong presence in Bangladesh, operating as American & Efird (Bangladesh) Ltd, with a corporate office at The Glass House, 38 Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka, and the company has been deepening its commitment to the country, opening its 24th global manufacturing operation in Chattogram, Bangladesh in March 2025, complementing its existing operation in Gazipur.
Business Operations
A&E manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of thread and yarn products for industrial and consumer use. It is a producer of premium quality industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread, and technical textiles, whose products are relied upon by producers of apparel, automotive components, home furnishings, medical supplies, footwear, and a diverse range of industrial products.
A defining feature of its operations is full vertical integration. A&E's manufacturing capabilities are completely vertical, from raw cotton and other fibers through the spinning, winding, dyeing, and finishing of its threads and specialty yarns, and it is an industry leader in product innovation, quality, and sustainability, known for its superior dyeing capabilities and color matching. The company has a long history of technological leadership; it was the first textile company in North Carolina to digitally match colors, automate the doffing system on spinning frames, and computerize dye machines.
Sustainability sits at the centre of how the company presents itself. A&E has set a high level of sustainability compliance in the industry through its Eco-Driven initiatives, and it is a recognised industry leader in environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility, operating its global facilities with regard for the safety and health of its associates worldwide.
Affiliations with the BUP Career Club
A&E marks a notable addition to the BUP Career Club's roster of industry partners as a first-time participating company at the BUP Career & Education Fest 2026, joining the festival for the very first time after never having taken part in previous editions. Its debut is significant for the event: while the fest's recurring partners have been concentrated in banking, services, and ride-hailing technology, A&E brings a global manufacturing and textile industry leader into the mix, broadening the range of sectors students can engage with.
The participation reflects a natural alignment between the two organisations. The BUP Career Club works to create a bridge between the corporate world and the university, helping fresh graduates reach their desired professions while equipping students with the skills to stay ahead of the competition. For A&E, which runs significant manufacturing and corporate operations in Bangladesh across Gazipur, Chattogram, and its Dhaka head office, the fest offers direct access to a pool of business and professional graduates suited to roles across its operations, supply chain, commercial, and corporate functions. As a first-time recruiter at the event, its presence also signals the festival's growing reach in attracting established multinational employers from the country's vital ready-made garments and textile ecosystem.
