MONTREAL – Gildan Activewear, an apparel manufacturer, announced Wednesday the closing of two sock-making facilities in Mount Airy, N.C., resulting in the loss of about 520 jobs, as it consolidates sock production to its new facility in Honduras.
The plants will close by the end of August 2007.
Gildan will continue to knit socks at its one remaining facility in Hillsville, Va. The company is also consolidating certain retail sales and administrative functions, based at the Kentucky Derby Hosiery head office in Hopkinsville, Ky., into other Gildan operations.
The company said it is moving its sock production offshore in order to remain globally competitive with Asian imports.