Interview Series Sunday Selvage

Cone Denim started with a new interview series on their Instagram account @conedenim called ‘Sunday Selvage’. I’m very honored to kick off this new initiative from this legendary denim mill from Greensboro, U.S.A.

Cone Denim started when brothers Moses and Ceasar Cone founded the Cone Export and Commission Company in 1891 in New York City. The company acted as the marketing agency for 90% of southern mill owners. The company saved many failing southern cotton mills from bankruptcy because it brought them much improved sales and encouraged the development of much better products.

In 1895, they opened their first mill, Proximity Cotton Mills. This mill was established to weave denim close to the cotton fields, cotton gins, warehouses, and rail lines. Weaving at Proximity began in 1896 with 7,500 spindles and 240 looms. To keep that many looms supplied with yarn, employees had to run the spinning machines night and day.

Ten years later, in 1905, the first denim fabrics came off the looms of their White Oak mill. White Oak would soon become the largest denim mill in the world. By 1910, White Oak was supplying a third of the world’s denim demand. The rest of the Cone Denim story is history…

The Full Interview

The full interview with my denim story, some treasures from my denim archive, and my activities as a freelance denim specialist (10 years anniversary this year!) for brands, retail, and mills can be read here below. Thanks, Cone Denim for the interview. Enjoy!

https://conedenim.com