In 2017 Cone Mills Corporation announced that after more than 110 years of continuous production its White Oak mill in Greensboro, NC, would cease operations. Cone Mills was once one of the world’s leading producers of denim, flannel and corduroy. In more recent years when fashion trended towards dead-stock and raw denim the North Carolina mill produced some of the most sought-after selvedge denim on the market, coveted for its durability. In 2019 Vidalia Mills CEO Dan Feibus purchased the disused selvedge looms from White Oak and moved them to a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Vidalia, Louisiana. The purchase signaled Feibus’ intention to revitalize the production of American selvedge and revolutionize domestic textile manufacturing.
Raleigh Denim got hold of some of Vidalia Mills first selvage production run and will use the denim to make 100 pairs each of its four mens styles. First up, the Martin, Raleigh’s slimmest fit. Each pair of limited edition Martin Raw Vidalia Mills jeans (pre-order: $340.00) is handcrafted in downtown Raleigh, NC, by a small team of jeansimths. The Martin has a tapered leg and selvage details on the outseam, coin pocket and back belt loop. The jeans are finished with antique brass buttons and rivets and a paint stripe detail on the back right pocket.
Pre-order the Martin Raw Vidalia Mills at raleighdenimworkshop.com.
