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In 1975, 80% of the clothes Americans purchased were made in the USA, but in the 1980’s, the decline in American made apparel began. By the 1990’s almost no apparel was manufactured in the USA.
Western North Carolina fell victim to this overseas manufacturing trend. In the ’70s, there were five manufacturers operating within the limits of Old Fort. They made furniture and clothes and car parts, but they started closing in the ’80s, when the Old Fort Finishing Plant, a textile company, shut down its operations and let go 500 employees. The trend continued with most of the other manufacturers ceasing operations in the last two decades. But a new story is emerging. A modern-day renaissance really…and Kitsbow Cycling Apparel is an integral part of this resurgence.
In this episode, I sit down with David Billstrom, CEO of Kitsbow. We talk about the company moving their headquarters from Petaluma, California, to Old Fort, North Carolina, and the 60 new jobs the company has created to date. We also talk about why Old Fort was the perfect fit for this young company, and how they, along with Hillman Beer, sought to restore and convert the former Parker Hosiery Building into prime manufacturing space, and a destination pub that also serves remarkable locally sourced food. Kitsbow has since opened The Ride House, a retail space and café that serves as a meeting point for cyclists and a de-facto visitor’s center for people hiking and riding in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest.
We also talk about partnerships with the local community, offering careers vs jobs, as well as environmental and sustainability initiatives that are driven by their lean manufacturing & made to order approach.
Regardless of whether you are a mountain biker or not, I think you will enjoy learning about supply chain issues related to batch manufacturing, and how Kitsbow’s lean manufacturing of American made apparel is good for the environment and the economy.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Kitsbow
Kitsuma Mountain Bike Trail
Old Fort, NC
Old Fort Trails Project
Fonta Flora State Trail
Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: mike@explorationlocal.com
Website: https://explorationlocal.com/
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/
