HanesBrands, a marketer of innerwear and basic apparel said it will expand production at its Clarksville sheer hosiery facility and reduce offshore sourcing.
HanesBrands which markets brands like Hanes, L’eggs, Just My Size and other brands said the expansion will add 120 new jobs in the plant.
HanesBrands will add finishing and packaging of Hanes and designer hosiery at the plant, which is one of the largest hosiery knitting facilities in the world and which is now outsourced and conducted offshore.
Hanes expects to invest approximately $1.5 million to buy and install additional machinery and to relocate and upgrade its packaging and dyeing operations.
“We are delighted to be able to add jobs at our Clarksville plant,” said Javier Chacon, Hanes senior vice president of global operations.
“It is not easy for a US plant to compete with offshore competitors, but the capabilities of our plant to continuously adapt, automate and improve efficiency is a testament to the resiliency of this facility,” he added.
“The plant’s competitiveness also is aided by its scale and size, superior product quality, leading safety record, lower US energy costs, and proximity to the US market,” HanesBrands said.
The new jobs will average approximately $39,000 per year in wages and benefits and will infuse $4.7 million into the local economy each year.
Unlike most apparel companies, HanesBrands manufactures the majority of its products in company-owned plants in its global supply chain.
For the North American market, it currently knits all of its sheer hosiery in Clarksville, splits the sewing of seams for the knit hosiery between Clarksville and a company-owned facility in El Salvador.
The company also operates hosiery manufacturing facilities in Europe for the European market.
Ranked No. 530 on the Fortune 1000 list, Hanes has approximately 55,900 employees in more than 35 countries and takes pride in its strong reputation for ethical business practices. (AR)
