Woolrich Bringing Manufacturing Back to Pennsylvania
BY WOOLRICHJANUARY, 2013
…At the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show in Salt Lake City, Utah, Woolrich, Inc. President Nicholas P. Brayton issued an open letter to the public on the company’s commitment to domestic manufacturing. Brayton’s open letter addresses the company’s current and past U.S. manufacturing challenges and outlines future strategic goals to bring manufacturing back to the historic Pennsylvania Woolen Mill…
Nicholas P. Brayton – President
CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENT
It’s a popular thing to be manufacturing in the United States right now. Companies of all sizes are listening to their consumers and their hearts, and finding a way to build it here again.
At Woolrich, we have been actively manufacturing in the United States since our company’s founding in 1830. We proudly operate the oldest continually running mill in America, right here in the town of Woolrich.
As proud as we are of our manufacturing legacy, it’s true that we don’t make 100% of our products in the USA as we once did. As the global economy grew and matured over the last 20 years, many core mill customers took their woolen business overseas. To remain relevant, competitive and solvent, we made the same difficult choice.
In today’s world, the hard reality is that making things here is hard to do. But like our customers who embrace adventure every day, Woolrich is preparing to tackle a new challenge… bringing manufacturing back to Pennsylvania, one step at a time.
Toward this end, Woolrich is setting three significant domestic manufacturing goals: for our mill, for our customers, and for our brand.
1. To increase the yardage of wool produced in our woolen mill by 50% in 2013.
2. To introduce a 100% American-made apparel collection in Fall 2013.
3. To increase our American-made product offerings by 2015, ensuring that more than 50% of Woolrich Woolen garments proudly include American-made wool.
In the coming months, for Woolrich to set and accomplish these goals, it’s going to take more than a company commitment. It’s going to take support from our loyal customers as well.
At Woolrich, we are proud of our rich heritage, and eager to begin writing the next chapter of the American manufacturing story. Moreover, we are excited to work side by side with you to accomplish these worthwhile goals.
Sincerely,
Nicholas P. Brayton
President
Woolrich Inc.
At Woolrich, we have been actively manufacturing in the United States since our company’s founding in 1830. We proudly operate the oldest continually running mill in America, right here in the town of Woolrich.
As proud as we are of our manufacturing legacy, it’s true that we don’t make 100% of our products in the USA as we once did. As the global economy grew and matured over the last 20 years, many core mill customers took their woolen business overseas. To remain relevant, competitive and solvent, we made the same difficult choice.
In today’s world, the hard reality is that making things here is hard to do. But like our customers who embrace adventure every day, Woolrich is preparing to tackle a new challenge… bringing manufacturing back to Pennsylvania, one step at a time.
Toward this end, Woolrich is setting three significant domestic manufacturing goals: for our mill, for our customers, and for our brand.
1. To increase the yardage of wool produced in our woolen mill by 50% in 2013.
2. To introduce a 100% American-made apparel collection in Fall 2013.
3. To increase our American-made product offerings by 2015, ensuring that more than 50% of Woolrich Woolen garments proudly include American-made wool.
In the coming months, for Woolrich to set and accomplish these goals, it’s going to take more than a company commitment. It’s going to take support from our loyal customers as well.
At Woolrich, we are proud of our rich heritage, and eager to begin writing the next chapter of the American manufacturing story. Moreover, we are excited to work side by side with you to accomplish these worthwhile goals.
Sincerely,
Nicholas P. Brayton
President
Woolrich Inc.
SOURCE: Woolrich Blog
thank you for seeing the importance of manufacturing here in America. If your quality remains, I WILL buy your products, even if you charge a little more.
Bravo to you,Sir! I doff my hat in appreciation. My father in law worked for Klopmann Fabrics(later absorbed by Burlington) in the rag tade for 35 yrs. They were closing mills in N.C.,S.C.,and Virginia as soon as ’91. The conservatives blamed”the unions” when there WERE NONE! It was corporate GREED,pure and simple. Back then,I guess they felt $5.00/hr was TOO MUCH to pay an American worker! So,God Bless you for your decision. How about speaking to your competitors to do the same? After all,when when we all do well,we ALL do well !
Hurray. Get the military wool blanket account!
Having been a Woolrich Representative from 1970 to 1977, I made many trips back to Woolrich and saw the importance of jobs for
all the local workers. It has disturbed me greatly to know that all
these people have been unemployed since Woolrich went overseas.
God Bless you, Hal Peters
made many trips from Erie to Lock Haven to the Woolrich outlet for fabric was so dissapointed when they discontinued carrying it esp. the chammy flannel in the southwestern prints-please bring this back.
i have always wanted to purchase this brand but not when the tag says made in china, very diificult to bring that in my home