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Socks for soldiers means more work for mill

By Sharon McBrayer | The News Herald

Published: June 25, 2009

Morganton - A requirement that military clothing be made in the U.S. has scored a coup for a local hosiery mill.
Al Robinson, co-owner of Robinson Hosiery Mill in Valdese, got word Wednesday from state Rep. Hugh Blackwell that the company was awarded a military contract to make boot liners/dress socks for the military. The company put in a bid on the project in February, he said.
Robinson and his brother Kenneth, who is co-owner, spread the good news to employees, who were ecstatic, he said.
That's because, and it's no secret, the hosiery industry has suffered over the last 12 years.
Because of the contract, Robinson Hosiery will likely be able to hire an additional 10 to 20 people, Robinson said.
It will bring back some employees who were laid off due to lower production, Robinson said.
"This is definitely going to be a help for us and for our employees," Robinson said. The company currently has around 50 employees, he said.
The five-year contract will mean the company will produce 1.5 million pairs of socks a year for the military, Robinson said. That will equate to about 3,000 pairs a week, he said. Everything, he said, is done in house from knitting the socks to packaging them.
Robinson said he hopes to start producing the sock by next month. It is a black poly-yarn boot liner that is designed to take moisture away from a soldier's feet but is thin enough that it also can be worn as a dress sock, Robinson said.
The two brothers put together a team that included the N.C. Military Business Center and the Hosiery Technology Center to try to win a military contract. The Robinsons attended a U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored Advanced Planning Brief for Industry to get to know the government buyers and learn about the bidding process, according to state Sen. Jim Jacumin's office.
"Their persistence combined with their excellent product and best price brought home the contract, which will mean several million dollars with future delivery orders and local job preservation/creation," a release from Jacumin's office said.
Edgar Lee Robinson started Robinson Hosiery Mill in 1956, said Al Robinson.