Vermont Business Magazine Comfort Colors in Northfield will be closing by the end of October, according to a story on WCAX.com. Comfort Colors (previously known as Barry T Chouinard) was bought by Montreal-based Gildan Activewear Inc (GIL; TSX and NYSE) for $100 million last February. At the time, it stated that no changes were planned. But WCAX reported that all 60 emplloyees at the plant would lose their jobs as Gildan is consolidating the upscale t-shirt and sweat shirt company's operations at other plants. Gildan has several brands beyond its own, including Gold Toe socks.
Comfort Colors generated $95 million in sales in 2014, nearly half of which was due to contracts with Gildan. Comfort Colors markets its products under the Comfort Colors brand, whose products can be found in college bookstores, specialty retail stores, destination and resort shops. Comfort Colors purchases prepared-for-dye garments from third-party vendors, including Gildan. The garments are subsequently treated through a customized in-house dyeing process.
Comfort Colors is headquartered in Northfield and has dyeing, packaging and distribution operations in facilities in Northfield and Berlin, Vermont, and New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Comfort Colors also has held a "warehouse" sale in Northfield at the same time as prominent Northfield manufacturer Darn Tough Socks has held its popular factory outlet sale in November.
Gildan (www.gildan.com) is a supplier of quality branded basic family apparel, including T-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear, socks, hosiery and shapewear. The company sells its products under a diversified portfolio of company-owned brands, including the Gildan®, Gold Toe® and Anvil® brands and brand extensions, as well as the Secret®, Silks® and Therapy Plus™ brands. The Company also has the U.S. sock license for Under Armour®, and licenses for Mossy Oak® and New Balance® brands.