By a Thread

摘要

"People are always surprised to learn that we still make anything here in the U.S.," says Springs Industries CEO Cran-dall Bowles. The largest home-furnishings company in North America, Springs and its 14,000 employees crank out bedding and bath products, rugs and window coverings in 30 manufacturing facilities in 13 states, Canada and Mexico. Its brand names and licenses-including Wamsutta, Springmaid, Ultrasuede, Kate Spade and NASCAR-produce annual revenues of $3 billion. Springs is proof positive that U.S. textile manufacturing is very much alive. But it would be a stretch to say it's well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. lost more than 800,000 textile jobs from 1994 to 2004-about 350,000 of them since 2001-and 18 domestic textile plants have been closed this year. That figure includes four Springs facilities in South Carolina.