What is Vidalia Mills?
Vidalia Mills isn’t just an average denim mill – it’s a game-changer in the world of sustainable fashion. Founded in 2014, Vidalia Mills set out to revolutionize denim production while honoring the heritage of American textile manufacturing. Situated in a former Fruit of the Loom distribution center in Vidalia, Louisiana, this mill is breathing new life into vintage machinery once used by the iconic White Oak Mill.
Led by CEO Dan Feibus and industry veteran Eric Goldstein, Vidalia Mills aims to redefine the denim industry’s standards. The vision? In Goldstein’s words, to become “the craft brewer in denim.” They don’t want to produce the largest amount of fabric – rather, it produces the best quality and most innovative denim in the world.
Manufacturing
At the heart of the Mills’ operation are Draper X3 selvedge looms, the very same machines that once churned out iconic White Oak Cone denim for generations. Acquiring 46 of these legendary looms, Vidalia Mills boasts an impressive capacity for crafting the finest selvedge denim. With a meticulous process that takes more than two hours to weave enough denim for a single pair of jeans, the mill can ensure each piece is crafted to perfection. In addition, the mill has 40 new Picanol looms and 30 vintage Picanol President shuttle looms. All together – pumping out 7 million yards of fabric per year.
Though little has been noted about the other processes in their manufacturing of denim, they also spin the yarn, dye the yarn, cut & sew the jeans, and wash the jeans. A true one-stop shop for the production of denim.
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the core of Vidalia Mills’ ethos. The mill relies on environmentally friendly BASF e3 cotton sourced within 500 miles of its facility, minimizing its carbon footprint and supporting local communities. To minimize the footprint even further – the mill is planting their own cotton fields on a 150-acre plot of land attached to their facility. Also, the vertical integration ensures a streamlined supply chain, from fiber to finished garment, all under one roof.
They power 70% of their operations from renewable hydroelectricity with a plan to increase that percentage with solar panels. With a focus on speed to market and sustainability, Vidalia Mills is paving the way for a greener, more efficient denim industry.
The Creative Center
But Vidalia Mills isn’t stopping there. In addition to its cutting-edge manufacturing facility, the mill boasts an Industry Creative Center—a 20,000-square-foot hub of innovation. Here, consumer-facing fashion brands and supply chain partners come together to drive sustainability, research fibers & chemicals, and explore new finishing techniques. With a digitized vintage denim library for design inspiration, the Creative Center is a hotbed of creativity and collaboration.
To wrap up, Vidalia Mills isn’t just an average denim mill – it’s a beacon of innovation and sustainability in an industry ripe for change. With its commitment to heritage craftsmanship and forward-thinking initiatives, Vidalia Mills is leading the charge toward a brighter, greener future for denim.