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| Founded | 1842 in Johnson, Vermont |
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| Headquarters | 51 Lower Main St E Johnson, VT 05656 |
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Number of employees | 21 |
| Website | www |
Johnson Woolen Mills is an American manufacturer of woolen outer wear and other wool and flannel clothing located in Johnson, Vermont.
The company began in 1842 when local farmers brought their own wool in to the local mill above the Gihon River, owned by Andrew Dow, to have it woven into cloth. [1] [2] The business was originally a fabric manufacturer and began to make its own clothing in the early 20th century. [3]
Dow partnered with and eventually sold out to Isaac Pearl who ran it as the I. L. Pearl Company. He was joined by D.A. Barrows in 1905 who soon became the company's owner. The company remained in the Barrows family, handed down for three generations, until the final Barrows owner Stacey Barrows Manosh purchased it from her father in 1998. After Manosh took over, the company started more actively courting international markets and attending larger retailer conventions. Eventually the Japanese market turned into 30 percent of all of JWM's wholesale purchases. [3]
The business was purchased by Gene Richards in early 2023 and has an ownership structure including his wife Julie, his two sons and their partners and his business associate Erin Desautels. Richards implemented changes including an inventory and website overhaul, as well as community-building such as hanging Christmas lights outside the store and installation of a deer weighing station. [2]
The mill itself closed in 1960 but clothing is still made on-site, having a reputation of being "sturdy clothing good for many winters." [4] Johnson Woolen Mills creates clothing useful for hunting such as hunting coats and pants made of heavy fabric in reds and greens, with many pockets. They call their hunting pants the "Best Wearing Trousers in America." [3] In 2023 they created a Northwoods X 1842 collection in partnership with local hunting enthusiasts. They also sell wool and flannel by the yard. [5]
Madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with typically patterned texture and tartan design, used primarily for summer clothing such as pants, shorts, lungi, dresses, and jackets. The fabric takes its name from the former name of the city of Chennai in south India.
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of varying fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fiber. Flannel is commonly used to make tartan clothing, blankets, bed sheets, sleepwear, and several other uses.
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Charles W. Leonard was an innovator in textile manufacturing, granite quarry excavation, as well as harness racing and rail transport.
Woolrich, Inc. is an American outdoor clothing company that originated in Woolrich, Pennsylvania, in 1830.
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Hardwick Clothes is an American clothing manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee specializing in tailor-made suits for men and women. Founded on July 28, 1880, Hardwick Clothes is the oldest maker of tailored clothing in America, and the second-oldest company in Bradley County, Tennessee.
Edward Pranker (1792–1865) was an English-American textile manufacturer who owned the Pranker Mills in Saugus, Massachusetts.
Pranker Mills, also known as the Iroquois Mills, is a former American textile mill located in Saugus, Massachusetts that was in operation from 1822 to 1915.
The Conley–Maass–Downs Building, also called the Maass and McAndrew Company Building, is one of the oldest remaining commercial buildings in Rochester, Minnesota.
The woollen industry in Wales was at times the country's most important industry, though it often struggled to compete with the better-funded woollen mills in the north of England, and almost disappeared during the 20th century. There is continued demand for quality Welsh woollen products.
Chatham Manufacturing Company is an American textile brand founded in 1877 that has made automobile upholstery, jeans, and flannels. Its most famous product is the Chatham Blanket. It was the largest blanket manufacturer in the world at its height.
Swanskin is a close woven twill-weave flannel cloth for work clothes. It was used by fishermen and laborers. It is employed also as Ironing cloth to support on ironing tables.
The Reedsburg Woolen Mill was a historic woolen mill along the Baraboo River in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The woolen mill was the largest employer in Reedsburg for much of its life, employing over 200 people. The woolen mill was built in 1891 and lasted until 1968, when most of it burned down, leaving the office building intact. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.