F. Schumacher & Co.
| Company type | Privately owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Textile, Interior design |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Founder | Frederic Schumacher |
| Headquarters | New York City and Fort Mill , United States |
Area served | United States and international markets |
Key people | Timur Yumusaklar (CEO), Dara Caponigro (COO and Creative Director), Hannah Peters Siegried (General Counsel) |
| Products | Fabrics, wall coverings, trimmings, floor coverings, finished products, paints |
| Owner | Stephen Puschel and Andrew Puschel |
| Website | fschumacher |
F. Schumacher & Co. is a privately owned textile enterprise with headquarters located in New York City and Fort Mill, South Carolina. Established in 1889 by Frederic Schumacher, the company focuses on the creation and production of premium fabrics, wall coverings, trimmings, floor coverings, finished products, and paints tailored for the interior design sector in both the United States and international markets.
As a family-run business spanning five generations, Schumacher stands as the sole decorative textile supplier from the 19th century that remains privately held and managed by direct descendants of its original founder. The organization operates through five distinct brands: Schumacher, Patterson Flynn Martin, Backdrop, Freddie, and Frederic. To support its worldwide presence, it maintains 18 showrooms across various countries.
Leadership includes CEO Timur Yumusaklar, COO and Creative Director Dara Caponigro, along with General Counsel Hannah Peters Siegried. Owned by Stephen Puschel and Andrew Puschel, F. Schumacher & Co. combines its rich heritage with strategic management to uphold its market prominence and foster growth within the competitive textile design arena.
Origins (1889–1925)
F. Schumacher & Co. was launched in New York City in 1889 by Frederic Schumacher, positioning itself as a prominent textile provider during the Gilded Age. Its early clientele featured luxury establishments such as the Waldorf-Astoria and distinguished private residences. In 1895, the acquisition of Waverly Mill in Paterson, New Jersey enhanced its manufacturing scope to produce woven textiles for both residential and commercial applications, including a satin lampas fabric commissioned specifically for Theodore Roosevelt’s White House.
Embracing Modernism (1925–1945)
In 1925, Schumacher showcased its work at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, reflecting contemporary artistic movements like Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Around 1930, Pierre Pozier—Frederic Schumacher’s successor—collaborated with designer Paul Poiret to launch the company’s inaugural designer fabric line featuring modernist motifs inspired by Cubism. During World War II, the firm shifted production at its Waverly mill to manufacture materials for parachutes and life-preserving equipment, maintaining operations from 1939 through 1946.
Postwar Expansion (1945–1970)
Following World War II, suburban development fueled Waverly—then operating as a division of Schumacher until its sale in 2007—to market directly to department store customers with coordinated home décor collections encompassing fabrics, wallpaper, and carpeting under the "all three" campaign initiated in 1944. Significant commissions included bespoke textiles for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 1951 and selections made by First Lady Bess Truman for White House interiors in 1950. Additionally, a commemorative toile pattern honoring President Eisenhower’s career was designed in 1956 for Mrs. Eisenhower’s reelection effort. Schumacher’s fabrics also gained national recognition when featured during Jackie Kennedy’s televised tour of the White House in 1962.
Expansion and Development (1970–2021)
In 1998, F. Schumacher & Co. broadened its range by acquiring Patterson Flynn Martin, a firm established in 1943 renowned for its premium Wilton and Axminster carpets, as well as authentic handcrafted reproductions of classic rug patterns. Today, Patterson Flynn Martin specializes in creating custom rugs tailored for interior designers and architects.
The year 2021 marked another milestone for F. Schumacher & Co. with the acquisition of Backdrop, a disruptive direct-to-consumer paint brand, which enriched its home decor product lineup.
Operations Since 2021
F. Schumacher & Co. currently manages five distinct divisions, each providing products and inspiration tailored to the interior design and decoration sectors:
Schumacher
Offering an extensive selection of fabric, wallcoverings, trims, furniture, and home accessories, Schumacher presents over 10,000 items to interior designers and architects through its website fschumacher.com and 18 showrooms across the United States. Key showroom locations include New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Their products also reach customers in 28 countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Patterson Flynn (PF)
PF operates as a specialized rug and carpet atelier serving exclusively the interior design community via ten showrooms situated in major U.S. markets like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C.
Backdrop
Backdrop is a paint company integrated into the portfolio to complement Schumacher’s existing home decor offerings.
Frederic
Under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Dara Caponigro, Frederic functions as a lifestyle publication that reinforces the brand’s authority in design.
Partnerships
Schumacher has collaborated with distinguished designers and artists including Cecil Beaton, Dorothy Draper, Vera Neumann, Frank Lloyd Wright, Karl Lagerfeld, and Saul Steinberg. The company continues to offer iconic collections alongside refreshed editions developed in partnership with estates such as Vera Neumann (2014) and Frank Lloyd Wright (2018).
Ongoing collaborations with prominent interior designers and brands further strengthen Schumacher’s market presence. Notable current partners include:
- Celerie Kemble
- Mary McDonald
- Timothy Corrigan
- Miles Redd
- Matthew Patrick Smyth
- Trina Turk
- Todd Romano
- Veere Grenney
- Studio Bon
- Caroline Z Hurley
- David Kaihoi
- Iksel Decorative Arts
- Mark D Sikes
- Vogue Living
- David Oliver
- Clements Ribeiro
- Charlap Hyman & Herrero
- Porter Teleo
- Stephanie Seal Brown
- Vera Neumann
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Johnson Hartig
- Colette Cosentino
- Peg Norriss
- A Rum Fellow
- Molly Mahon
- Neisha Crosland
Cinema Industry
Set designer Hobe Erwin developed a collection for Schumacher that was featured in the set decoration of Gone With The Wind (1939). Esteemed society photographer and fashion designer Cecil Beaton, recognized for his work on My Fair Lady and Gigi, contributed as a guest designer for F. Schumacher. Additionally, the company’s textiles have been showcased in productions such as A Bed Time Story (1933), I Love Lucy (1953), The Age of Innocence (1993), Washington Square (1996), and Atonement (2007).
Government
F. Schumacher has provided fabric solutions to distinguished government entities, including the White House, the United States Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Public spaces
The firm played a role in furnishing New York City’s Metropolitan Opera, showcasing its impact on prominent public landmarks.