Gildan To Close Two Mount Airy, N.C., Sock Facilities

Montreal-based Gildan Activewear Inc. announced it will close two sock facilities in Mount Airy, N.C., and consolidate production from those facilities at its new, large-scale facility in Honduras. The closure, which will affect approximately 520 employees, is expected to be completed by the end of August 2007.

The company, which acquired Kentucky Derby Hosiery in July 2006, also will consolidate certain administrative and retail sales activities at the Hopkinsville, Ky.-based Kentucky Derby headquarters into other Gildan operations.

Gildan will continue to operate one remaining US sock facility in Hillsville, Va.

According to Gildan, the action, which is in line with its previously announced strategy to integrate the Kentucky Derby operations and to consolidate all areas of production at Gildan’s offshore facilities, is necessary in order for the company to remain competitive with imports from Asia.