Vidalia Mills, Louisiana is a modern textile manufacturer with a focus on sustainable and domestically sourced denim production. Established in 2019, Vidalia Mills have spent $50 million to resurrect a historic mill and re-employ local workers. Equipment has also been returned to use with 46 1940s Draper X3 looms from North Carolina's celebrated Cone Mills White Oak Plant brought to Vidalia to reinvigorate a neglected plant.
The 900,000-square-foot facility on the banks of the Mississippi River was abandoned for nearly four years following Fruit of the Loom shuttered in 2016. Thanks to a £15M loan from New Orleans-based AMCREF Community Capital, Vidalia Mills was able to open and hire back over 300 workers previously employed at the facility. Until this opening, it had been nearly 100 years since the last mill had opened in the United States, with a gradual decline in textile workforce from 250,000 workers in 1980s to less than 125,000 in the 2010s.
Vidalia is passionate about reviving American selvedge denim, while introducing cutting-edge technology to meet the new demands of the apparel industry. As well as having the Draper looms, Vidalia Mills houses 40 Picanol looms and 30 vintage Picanol President shuttle looms.
The goal is to reach a capacity of seven million yards of denim annually, as well as bring supply closer to home via an on-site Industry Creative Center and growing of cotton on 150 acres alongside the plant.
Vidalia Mills believe it's possible to find enough customers willing to spend a premium to own American-made selvedge denim, and they've so far been proven right. A first run of 400 pairs of jeans sold out in 48 hours, and customers like Raleigh Workshop has launched a new 100% made-in-USA jean in their Jones fit, using Vidalia selvedge denim. Nashville’s Imogene & Willie and AG are other customers.
As for acting responsibly, Vidalia Mills solely use BASF e3 traceable sustainable. Laundry involves zero discharge, with energy coming from nearby hydroelectric sources.
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