Days of Operation for U.S.'s Last Remaining Selvedge Denim Manufacturer Unveiled
Preserving the Legacy of American Selvedge Denim
The tradition of American selvedge denim, once a staple of the textile industry, is being kept alive by the White Oak Legacy Foundation and Proximity Manufacturing Company.
The historic White Oak denim mill, which traced its roots back to 1891 in Greensboro, North Carolina, closed its doors at the end of 2017. The mill, equipped with fabled Draper X-3 shuttle looms, was significant in shaping the look and feel of traditional selvedge jeans. Its closure marked the end of industrial-scale selvedge denim production in America.
However, the White Oak Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization, is leading efforts to caretake and sustain the heritage of weaving shuttle denim. They are focused on maintaining the legacy and craftsmanship associated with White Oak denim through community support and awareness campaigns.
Meanwhile, Proximity Manufacturing Company, while not directly tied to the White Oak plant, continues the tradition by offering custom-made selvedge jeans crafted with care and quality reminiscent of White Oak's standards. They emphasize high-quality, made-to-measure selvedge denim products that embody the craftsmanship legacy left by White Oak Mills.
Matt Sharkey, a photographer and author, played a significant role in documenting the final days of White Oak. His initial exposure to White Oak was through his major client, Levi's, in 2000. His marketing consultancy work with Levi's provided him with an early education about White Oak. In 2016, he visited Greensboro to film at the White Oak factory, and his experiences and work with White Oak became part of his book, American Denim. The book also includes information about the potential resurgence of White Oak.
As of mid-2025, the closure of the Cone Mills White Oak denim facility marks the end of an era for large-scale American selvedge denim manufacturing but has galvanized efforts to preserve this American heritage. These organizations are crucial in continuing the artisan tradition and supporting demand for authentic, handcrafted denim products in the USA.
Sharkey's new book, American Denim, includes information about the efforts of the White Oak Legacy Foundation and Proximity Manufacturing Company. The company White Oak was founded in 1905 by Cone Mills, and for much of the 20th century, it was the primary denim supplier to Levi's, Wrangler, Lee, and numerous other heritage brands. The Greensboro plant's closure was a significant blow to the industry, but the legacy of White Oak lives on through the proactive stewardship of the White Oak Legacy Foundation and the artisanal production by Proximity Manufacturing Company.
The White Oak Legacy Foundation, focusing on education-and-self-development, aims to raise awareness and preserve the legacy of White Oak denim, furthering an appreciation for fashion-and-beauty. Proximity Manufacturing Company, in the realm of technology and lifestyle, carries on the selvedge denim tradition with meticulous craftsmanship, ensuring the continued relevance of home-and-garden aesthetics in their products. Matt Sharkey's latest work, American Denim, encapsulates this story of preservation and renaissance, providing insights into the intersection of lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and the enduring allure of fashion-and-beauty.
