Proximity Manufacturing Company

We've been actively producing broken twill and right hand twill with a variety of nuanced differences in design.

Last month we wrapped up sampling with USA-grown and spun cotton/hemp blend yarns.  These yarns were all produced right here in NC, and we have since produced the first collection of sample garments for the sponsoring company, including jeans, skirts, jackets, hats, and sneakers, all designed, cut, and sewn on the east coast in the USA.  

Additionally, we have been test weaving with three different styles and blends of Sally Fox's naturally colored cotton yarns.  These are unique, and have a lot of potential for future production use.

Working on getting plain weave cams and change gears for 2024, as well as a few new warp weights to expand our offerings.

Winter restock is in the works on HARDENCO x HH 003 jeans in the three existing styles, along with a double knee work jean, and a maxi skirt.  

Cut and sewed some chore coats with raglan sleeves based on a 1940's pattern last month, in two sizes, and put them in Hudson's Hill, which now has three fabric variation of 5-pocket jeans, zip pouches, tote bags, hooded parkas, and the aforementioned chore coats, all made using Proximity Denims.  For folks not ordering cloth directly from us (B2B), it's a good opportunity to show the cloth in garment form in-person.  

Stocktank Supply has been selling through their Royal Blue broken twill jeans and jackets, and is hosting The Shindig coming up soon with a variety of other small west coast-based brands.  Should be a good opportunity to see product in-person for folks on the other side of the pond.

Last thing for now, we have been filling up our Denim 101 class for March 12-13, 2024, and I can let you in on a bit of insider information:  Tracy Panek, historian of Levi Strauss & Co. will be attending this particular course, and we've asked that she be our guest speaker during our social evening on the 12th.  Should be a great opportunity to learn about the history of their brand, and perhaps she'll even bring some items with her, but no promises on that.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the denim-bros and denim-sis' out there!

Sincerely,

Proximity Manufacturing Company

Currently producing some custom dark tan filled broken twill for a start-up brand out of Colorado, while planning out our next warp turnover.  Both looms have been humming along, and a colleague recently allowed us to make the acquisition of a little over two dozen additional weaving machines.  

There are a few spots in the class that recently opened up due to some folks from PD teams across the country having schedule conflicts, so if anyone is interested, you can check out the program and sign-up through the WOLF website (wolfdenim.org).  

Last month we went to Kingpins NYC, showcasing some products from brands that have manufactured garments and accessories using our cloth.  Opie Way, another NC manufacturer, attended the show with us, releasing their denim high-top sneakers at the show on the first day.  They recently released the denim version online as of last week.  

For those involved in the needle trade, it is at these tradeshows only where we will bring a few rolls of cloth and sell it by the yard, otherwise we have MOQ of 400 yards.  For small brands reading this, we will bifurcate an order of 400y into two styles, depending on filling yarns we have in quick inventory.  

We expect to broaden our cloth offering this year by building two new constructions, one with a heavyweight appeal and one with more of a shirting weight.  I look forward to writing an update that confirms this plan's realization in a few months' time.

We will try to put a few smaller items online sometime in the summer, so that folks who wish to support us but do not buy cloth can help keep us going.  If donating in support of our effort is of your interest, you can also donate directly to WOLF through the website mentioned above.

As I write this update, I reflect back and think it is amazing to know that we're starting on our fourth year of weaving, having begun in January of 2021, and our drive and steadfastness to preserve the trade in our city for its 128th consecutive year remains strong.  Thank you for your support and thank you to all who have taken the time to read these posts.  

Sincerely,

Proximity Manufacturing Company

We were recently nominated for Coolest Thing Made in NC award for 2024, a new competition for the state of North Carolina.  The first round of voting is live, and it is a tid bit tricky to navigate, as you have to search for us, and then type in an email, click vote, and check a box to confirm you're not a robot.  You can vote ONCE DAILY per device per email address. 

If folks here could help support us, that would be so great.  We could really use the publicity, and it would be great for a centuries old trade to win this award.

The link to vote is:

When you scroll down, there is a search bar:

Search Terms:  Denim, Selvage, Proximity

Thanks in advance, and don't forget to vote as many times daily as possible now until 8/29, when the first round of voting ends.

If you are on reddit forums, or superdenim, could you please repost?  We really hope we can garner some support!

Sincerely,

Proximity Manufacturing Company