Our editor in chief muses on the fabrics that shaped her childhood and celebrates how new life is being breathed into textile towns across the state
textiles
Made in NC: Farm to Feet
The second-generation owner of a Surry County hosiery mill is helping keep a North Carolina legacy industry alive. His company’s 21st-century socks feature bold designs and high-quality fabrics geared to dedicated lovers of the outdoors.
Judges of the 2022 Made in NC Awards: Style
Meet denim designer Victor Lytvinenko, the founder of Raleigh Denim Workshop + Curatory and a Style category judge for this year’s Made in NC Awards.
Heart & Soles
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.
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.
