[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 109 (Tuesday, August 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   NATIONAL HOSIERY WEEK--AUGUST 8-14

  Mr. HELMS. Madam President, the week of August 8-14 marks the 23d 
annual observance of National Hosiery Week, and I salute a great 
industry which has contributed so much to our Nation--and to North 
Carolina's economic well-being.
  The hosiery industry is a substantial factor in the Nation's economy. 
A total of 457 hosiery plants employ 66,100 people in 28 States; they 
produce and distribute more than 4.3 billion pairs of hosiery each 
year. This provides more than $6 billion to the U.S. economy every 
year.
  The hosiery industry has made great strides in improving productivity 
and the quality of its products. These efforts making the hosiery 
industry more competitive have resulted in significant technological 
and design improvements in the manufacture of hosiery.
  As a result, the hosiery industry's great strides in the area of 
foreign trade are significant. Exports in 1993 grew by 16.5 percent 
over 1992 levels--to 15 million dozen pairs. That, Mr. President, is a 
lot of hosiery exports.
  The hosiery industry makes a real difference in many small 
communities where the hosiery plant is often the main employer, 
providing good, stable jobs for its employees.
  Madam President, National Hosiery Week is of special importance to me 
because North Carolina is the leading U.S. hosiery State. North 
Carolina is proud of its leadership of the hosiery industry and the 
quality of life that the industry has provided for so many of our 
citizens.
  Madam President, I extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to 
the hosiery industry, and to its many thousands of employees, for their 
outstanding contribution to our State and Nation.
  I ask unanimous consent that an editorial from the Hickory (NC) Daily 
Record, headed ``Hosiery Industry Still Important in Uniform,'' be 
printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  There being no objection, the editorial was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           [From the Hickory (NC) Daily Record, Aug. 7, 1994]

              Hosiery Industry Still Important in Unifour

       National Hosiery Week begins Monday. The special week, 
     which emphasizes the value of the hosiery industry, is 
     significant to North Carolina as a whole and the Unifour in 
     particular.
       A recent press release explained the industry's importance 
     to North Carolina. Slightly more than 52 percent of the 4.3 
     billion pairs of socks, sheer hosiery and tights that were 
     made last year came from our state.
       The Unifour has long been known for its hosiery plants, and 
     has taken pride in the fact that many of the mills were 
     started by local men using local money. Hickory got its first 
     hosiery facility in 1906 when J.A. Cline and the Rev. W.P. 
     Cline started a mill in the southeastern part of the city.
       Eastern Catawba County had its first mill even earlier than 
     that. J.A. Cline became interested in hosiery manufacturing 
     because of his friend Dave Carpenter, who already was 
     operating a hosiery mill in Newton.
       The second Hickory hosiery facility apparently was Elliott 
     Knitting Mills. Although written sources disagree on the date 
     that the mill opened, it was up and running by at least 1910.
       The plant started with 40 machines and 25 employees. By 
     1940, Elliott Knitting Mills had 900 workers and was 
     producing 18 million pairs of hosiery for men, women and 
     children.
       The hosiery industry played a significant role in helping 
     Hickory make it through the Great Depression, and was 
     extremely vital to the area by 1940. The Record's silver 
     anniversary edition of Sept. 14, 1940, reported that no less 
     than a hundred million pairs of hose were manufactured by 39 
     knitting mills and finishing plants in the immediate area.
       The area mills employed four thousand workers and had an 
     estimated $3 million in payroll. It was noted at the time 
     that the hosiery industry provided upwards of half of the 
     city's income and about one-third of the county's income.
       The Record observed then that ``They (the hosiery 
     manufacturers) are a modest group of gentlemen, shying away 
     from publicity; but they agree that their payrolls (which 
     aren't always easy to meet) are a vital force in the 
     bloodstream of this section's trade.''
       Today, 54 years later, Unifour industry is more 
     diversified. But the hosiery industry remains ``a vital force 
     in the bloodstream of this section's trade.''
       Hosiery makers today face challenges that were unknown in 
     1940. But the industry has adapted and retained its vitality 
     despite intense worldwide competition and volatile fashion 
     markets.
       The industry is made up of forward-looking men and women 
     who know that America can meet the challenges. And the Record 
     is proud to salute the workers who make the hosiery industry 
     such a vital part of the Unifour.

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