Northfield, Vt.-based Darn Tough Vermont — a manufacturer of all-weather performance socks — has announced it will invest $400,000 to add modern seamless knitting machinery manufactured in Italy and more employees at its hosiery mill in order to meet growing demand. This expansion follows the company's announcement in February that it would increase its knitting machinery inventory by almost 50 percent, add jobs and install modern computer software.

"Unlike so many hosiery and textile mills who have succumbed to the cost-savings of offshore manufacturing, our mill and our jobs are here to stay," said Ric Cabot, founder and president, Darn Tough Vermont. "More importantly, we're not just holding our ground but growing at a rapid rate in a challenging business environment."

The company recently was awarded a $3 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command, in partnership with ADS Inc. — a Virginia Beach, Va.-based supplier of tactical and operational equipment and apparel — to supply the Marine Corps with 450,000 pairs of its Extreme Cold Weather Merino Wool Boot Socks, to be delivered by September 2012.

Darn Tough Vermont's socks, which are 100-percent made in the United States and offer an unlimited lifetime guarantee, feature small needle knitting for a high-density stitch count and good durability and cushioning, according to the company. The socks feature an exclusive blend containing either Coolmax® fiber or ultra-fine merino wool and offer properties including softness, good fit, durability and moisture management.

October 25, 2011