Yarn and threads distributor, Kelbourne Woolens, has been wholesaling for 15 years, but just recently celebrated the grand opening of a new retail shop in Mt. Airy, writes Asha Prihar for Billy Penn at WHYY.

The location is next to Maloumian Rugs, a multigenerational rug importer and retailer that has been in the city since 1927. 

“Textiles are everywhere,” said Courtney Kelley, Kelbourne’s co-owner. “They’re a part of everything that we do. And they’re just sort of part of the fabric of Philadelphia.”

Philadelphia’s textile industry dates back to the 17th century, and Mount Airy’s neighbor — Germantown — was one of its early hubs.

Since its launch in 2008, Kelbourne Woolens has seen tremendous growth, having sold to retailers in the U.S., Canada, and Iceland, and shipped goods to customers in France, South Korea, New Zealand, and Bahrain. 

Their new Mt. Airy storefront is within the mix of a community of fellow artists, knitters, textile artists, and other makers in Northwest Philadelphia.

“The neighborhood … really appreciates small business, it really appreciates the arts, it appreciates education,” Kate Osborn, the company’s other co-owner, said. “We’ve been welcomed here. And it’s been very cool.”

Read more about the story behind Kelbourne Woolens in Billy Penn at WHYY.

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