Taking Ownership of Quality
One brisk Saturday in October, I received a call at my home in Pennsylvania from my friend Joe. He was talking anxiously about a shirt factory in Mohnton that had just closed its doors after 100 years. “They’re sending the entire team home next Friday,” Joe explained. “Erik, these folks know how to make t-shirts. It’s in the water out there. Would you and Sasha have any interest in buying the place?”
The next morning I was on the turnpike, heading east. I walked the hardwood floors, shaking hands with the sewing professionals and technicians. I heard the story of this factory, the continuous downsizing, and the jobs shipped overseas. Here was a factory that had lived through both World Wars, the Great Depression, and 28 of our 46 presidents and was still fully operational. Joe was pulling on my heartstrings, but he didn’t have to. I saw the opportunity. Opportunity to rebuild; opportunity for rebirth. I also saw a sound business opportunity.
I did some quick math, and then I called Sasha. A few months prior, we had decided to build a new t-shirt factory in Dallas, Texas, next to our vertical distribution center. But here was an existing, fully functional version of what we aimed to build. Even better, the Mohnton mill came with knitting machines allowing us to develop our proprietary fabrics from scratch.
A few months later, after everyone had been sent home with their last paycheck, we fired up the Singers and brought the team back to work.
A Local Tradition
The Mohnton mill plays an essential part in the rich history of textile manufacturing and millinery in Eastern Pennsylvania, dating back to its opening in 1873. This is where the majority of American clothing was once made with pride. And now we’re bringing that integrity and dignity back full circle.
Cyrus Hornberger adds a water wheel to a pre-Civil War rifle foundry at 22 Main Street in Mohnton, PA, turning it into a functioning mill powered by the Wyomissing Creek.
Mohnton Knitting Mills is founded by Cyrus’ son Aaron Hornberger, initially making hats.
The factory expands, moving the fabric mill to 130 N. Sterley St. in Shillington, PA, and switches to sewing fully-finished knitwear at its Mohnton location.
Mohnton Knitting Mills becomes a significant knitwear producer and expands its operations to include dyeing and finishing.
During World War II, the mill shifts production to military uniforms and parachutes.
Mohnton Knitting Mills becomes one of the last remaining producers of custom knitwear in the United States as domestic manufacturing declined.
The company celebrates over 100 years in business, continuing to make custom knitwear in the United States, predominantly for Japanese clientele.
Mohnton Knitting Mills closes down after nearly 150 years in business.
Mohnton Knitting Mills becomes Buck Mason Knitting Mills.
