Gildan Activewear moves production of socks from Alabama to Central America

Montreal-based T-shirt giant Gildan Activewear is moving athletic sock production from Fort Payne, Alabama, to Central America citing rising cost pressures mainly from record prices for cotton.

Gildan, in a move to diversify from its dominant T-shirt and underwear business, bought the Alabama sock manufacturing facilities from V.I. Prewett & Son in 2007 and a year later laid off more than 200 employees as some production was moved to low-cost locations in Central America.

Four remaining sock-knitting operations are being closed in April with the loss of 280 hourly-paid jobs and management staff.

Original source: Montreal Gazette