[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                A TRIBUTE TO HANES BRANDS, INCORPORATED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Foxx) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today and 
honor Hanes Brands, Incorporated. Well over a century old, Hanes Brands 
started in 1901 when J. Wesley Hanes founded Shamrock Mills, a 
manufacturer of men's hosiery. In 1902, Pleasant Hanes founded the P.H. 
Hanes Knitting Company and began manufacturing two piece men's 
undergarments. In 1910, Shamrock Mills, the original production site 
for J. Wesley Hanes products, changed its name to Hanes Hosiery Mill 
and also began to manufacture women's hosiery.
  As their businesses expanded, the two different Hanes companies 
merged in 1965. Then in 1988, Adams-Mills Sock Company was acquired and 
later would become the Sarah Lee Sock Company. Hanes went on to 
manufacture undershirts, briefs, sleepwear and knitted shorts. But this 
was only the start of an emerging company that would grow to become a 
leading manufacturer of undergarments to T-shirts, casual and active 
wear to socks.
  It was the humble beginning of J. Wesley Hanes in 1901 that placed 
Hanes Brands on the path to a major corporation that currently employs 
50,000 people. On September 6, 2006, Hanes Brands spun off from its 
parent company Sarah Lee and emerged as a publicly held and traded 
company with a net worth of $4.5 billion.
  Hanes Brands sells high volume, high quality apparel, and can credit 
its success to anticipating what the consumer wants and working to meet 
those needs in value, fit, comfort and customer service.
  It is the largest seller of apparel essentials in the United States. 
Last year, Hanes Brands manufactured and sold over 400 million T-shirts 
and nearly half a billion pairs of socks. Hanes Brands is now listed on 
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HBI. A recent survey 
showed that Hanes brands can be found in eight of ten American 
households.
  Currently Hanes Brands manufactures some of the most commonly known 
clothing lines, such as Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, L'eggs, Just My 
Size, Hanes Hosiery, Barely There, Wonderbra and Outer Banks, as well 
as Duofold Performance Base Layer. Hanes Brands has grown into a full 
service clothing line and has established itself as a tremendous asset 
for Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
  Hanes Brands is a fantastic company that spurs economic growth and 
employs many people from the Fifth District of North Carolina. It is 
also a responsible corporate partner in the community, and I know it 
will continue to act in the future as an important neighbor in the 
community.
  Hanes Brands' new emergence as a stand-alone company will provide 
opportunities in education, will support further economic development 
and will continue to build value and leadership within the community. I 
have no doubt that after 105 years in business, Hanes' commitment to 
the community will grow even stronger through the years. That is why 
North Carolina and Winston-Salem are blessed to have such a responsible 
and growth-oriented corporation headquartered there. The opportunities 
are limitless.
  Not only does Hanes Brands have a long standing tradition of quality 
manufacturing and customer service, but Hanes Brands also adheres to 
strict values, which has made it successful and has clearly added to 
the longevity and popularity of the company. All persons involved with 
the company are proud of their work and reputation. They strive for the 
best, and that is what has made them so successful since their 
inception in 1901.
  I believe some of the reasons for Hanes Brands' success are the four 
core principles it adheres to: Number one, integrity/ethical standards; 
two, inclusivity/diversity; three, quality/superior performance; and 
four, reliability/commitment.
  It follows these values and understands that in order to succeed and 
become successful, it must set forth a mission statement, which it has. 
I believe it is a fantastic vision that sets a course for success and 
accomplishments.
  Hanes Brands' mission statement is: ``To profitably grow our leading 
brands by intimately understanding our customers, out-executing our 
competition and leveraging our sustainable competitive advantage.''
  With such forward thinking and dedication to its goals, it is no 
wonder that Hanes Brands is one of the most recognizable names in 
clothing and why eight out of ten American households have Hanes Brands 
products.
  I cannot stress enough the importance of this move by Hanes Brands to 
become a separate company and how its new revitalized presence in 
Winston-Salem will bring so many wonderful opportunities to the local 
community.
  I am proud to represent Hanes Brands and recognize it is an 
outstanding company and community leader. As a strong supporter of 
those people and companies which strive for success, all the while 
contributing to the community, I commend Hanes Brands for its continued 
commitment to excellence. I am eager to watch Hanes Brands progress and 
stand ready to assist in any way I can.

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