Fruit of the Loom Closing South Texas Plant (791 Jobs Lost)

The Kansas City Star ^ | Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | LYNN BREZOSKY - Associated Press

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

HARLINGEN, Texas - Fruit of the Loom of Texas, Inc. will close its Harlingen plant at year's end, eliminating 791 jobs and erasing the last of the region's textile industry, officials said Tuesday.

Company officials said the plant was no longer viable.

During the past two years, Cameron County also lost its Levi Strauss, Haggar and William Carter plants.

Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Co. closed its second of two service uniform plants in July 2002, after 40 years in business, eliminating about 670 jobs.

San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Co. announced in April 2002 it was closing shops in Brownsville, San Benito and El Paso, part of its decision to move virtually all its remaining U.S. production to cheaper factories overseas. Three years earlier, the company shuttered shops in McAllen and Harlingen.

Haggar Clothing Co. closed the last of five plants in the Rio Grande Valley last year and Converse Inc. also closed a factory.

Last year, investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bought Bowling Green, Ky.-based Fruit of the Loom out of bankruptcy for $840 million.

A Dallas-based spokeswoman for the apparel company did not immediately return calls.

Fruit of the Loom makes underwear, activewear and children's clothing under its own name and other brands, including BVD, Screen Stars and Underoos.

[Willie Green]

Our nation's textile industry is collapsing.

[ICE-FLYER]

I hope the old lady who inspected my underware is not one of them!!!

[lelio]

How can plants be closing in Texas? People on here scream about it being a Right to Work state without unions. Could it be that no matter what your income is you can't compete against sub $1/hr workers?

[TheSpottedOwl]

More good news :(

[StatesEnemy]

What the hell... We americans can't be bothered with making undies!

We're a service economy!

[Burkeman1]

Yeah but what real man still wears tighty whities anyway?

[since1868]

It is only a brief lay off

[freebilly]

It's only a brief layoff

Yes, but it could lead to a boxer rebellion....

[ValerieUSA]

There is no i in froot.

[freebilly]

And the workers might jockey for better working conditions....

[lelio]

Fruit of the Loom makes underwear, activewear and children's clothing under its own name

Ah, there's the problem. They should of jumped on the Little Cracker fad.

[joesnuffy]

I hope the old lady who inspected my underware is not one of them!!!

You really dont need her help....just remember yellow stains in front brown in back...real simple

[apackof2]

Your very witty

I read your profile, congratulations on being the father of 6 kids!
I think that's great
And congratulations on being a former lib

[umgud]

They've taken it in the shorts....

[umgud]

They've taken it in the shorts....

[Ken H]

I switched to Haines a long time ago.

I didn't care for those guys that kept popping out of my washing machine dressed up as fruits.

[Fester Chugabrew]

They should've adopted a more elastic business approach, like a special line called Browns. "Hey! They're already brown!"

[ValerieUSA]

as a public service:
Vintage Skivvies - A History of Men's and Boys' Underwear

[Fledermaus]

Thank the unions Willie.

[Beck_isright]

"Our nation's textile industry is collapsing has collapsed.

Sorry, had to edit it for my own honesty.