The unsung heroes of our wardrobes and our history, socks — and the hosiery mills that make them represent a way of life that once knit together generations of North Carolinians.
textiles
NC Icons: Textiles
In the 19th and 20th centuries, hundreds of textile mills — which produced everything from socks to blue jeans — supported a booming industry that created entire communities, turned North Carolina into a manufacturing powerhouse, and helped to weave the very fabric of our state.
12 Piedmont Traditions
Welcome to the heart of North Carolina! From iconic foods to industries that shaped a region, the center of our state is rich in history and traditions.
The Woven History of Biltmore Industries’ Homespun Shop
At the height of its success, Biltmore Industries’ woolen homespun had fans around the world. Yet its story is woven deeply into the fabric of Asheville.
The Artistry, Economics & Tradition of Cloth in Western North Carolina
By the early 20th century, the “Big Three” industries that dominated North Carolina were textile, furniture, and tobacco. Within a few decades, North Carolina earned its place as the center of textile manufacturing in the country. As businesses expanded to match the growing demand, an abundance of labor and use of quality fabrics led the path to capital success.
North Carolina in Thread
An exhibit in Wilmington showcases the state’s textile industry with spools from abandoned mills.
Sip of Relief
Dope wagons delivered a pick-me-up for tired textile workers.
Belmont
In its textiles and deeply religious college, it is a town connected to the past. In its trendy downtown and new commuter resident base, it is clearly ready for the future.
Textiles to Technology
A scientific facility unlike anything else in the world, the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis masterminds a new future for the former mill town.
