GEE-HAW, A Family Business is Born!

Capel Tradition, Local Manufacturing Spans Four Generations

In March of 1917, when A. Leon Capel, Sr. was 17 years old, he became the manufacturer of Gee-Haw Plowlines in the foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains. A few months later, while in Atlanta trying to sell his plowlines to distributors, he read in the paper that Henry Ford had developed a mechanical mule – the tractor.

Foreseeing the end of his rope, Mr. Capel cast around for an alternative use for his raw materials. He began braiding the materials, rather than twisting them into a rope. He then stitched his braid with a sewing machine around and around in concentric circles, producing the very first Capel braided rug, known today as Capel's American Originals™.

Ninety years after stitching that first rug, Capel Rugs has become America's oldest and largest privately-owned rug manufacturer and importer in the United States. The local company has stood the test of time, due in large part to four generations of commitment and care.

A. Leon Capel jr. returned from the University of North Carolina in 1954 to begin over 50 years with Capel. Followed by Jesse S. Capel in 1957 and Arron W.E. Capel soon after, following his service with Uncle Sam. Thus the second generation of Capels ­ or "G2" as they laughingly referred to themselves - took over leadership of the company. Members of the third generation of the Capel family business currently helm the company, and are carefully cultivating the next generation of leaders.

Since A. Leon Capel's ingenious innovation in 1917, Capel Rugs has seen a number of milestones that have positioned the company to be an industry leader. In 1936 Capel purchased the first of two spinning mills to provide a steady supply of high quality yarns. Capel still does its own dyeing, spinning, braiding and sewing in its Troy, North Carolina factories.

In 1963 Capel began offering imported collections from Japan and Finland. Today, Capel's import program thrives with a network of manufacturers across the globe. Capel Rugs is particularly proud of the valuable relationships its cultivated over generations with some of Asia's finest crafts people.

The threads of the Gee-Haw Plowlines remain the foundation of Capel Rugs. Over the years, the Capel family has built upon their expertise in construction and design and tapped into the most current technologies available to grow their company to its fullest potential. Today, Capel offers creativity, quality and value in a range of products and services you won't get with other rug companies. From the first American Originals™ to the finest hand-knotted rugs in the world or the practicality and innovation of their indoor-outdoor collections, Capel offers the most extensive program of rugs in the industry.