AVONDALE MILLS INC.
900 Avondale Ave.
Sylacauga, Alabama 35150-1899
Tel  (205) 249-1200
Fax (205) 249-1317

Avondale Mills, one of America's oldest and longest running producers of fabrics, bought Graniteville Company, another denim leader, in April, 1996, increasing its size and product offerings and strengthening its strategic positioning within the textile industry.  Avondale has a major presence in the sales yarn, denim and specialty gray fabrics markets.  It is also the country's third largest denim producer.

At the time of its purchase, Graniteville was the largest untilitywear fabrics producer in the U.S. and a major producer of piece-dyed fabrics. Its history dates back to 1845 when Granite Mill opened for business, having been founded by William Gregg, an industrial leader in the South who believed that the manufacture of textiles could be the salvation of South Carolina and Georgia. Through its Woodhead Specialty Fabrics, Graniteville produces fabrics with special finishes for tents, awnings, outdoor furniture and accessories for camping and boating. It specializes in four core product groups piece-dyed sportswear, indigo-dyed sportswear, utility wear and specialty products. At the time of its purchase, Graniteville had nine plants.  Recognized worlwide, Graniteville is a major producer of innovative products.  It manufactures, dyes and finishes cotton, synthetic and blended (cotton and polyester) apparel fabrics.

Avondale spent approximately $50 million to expand and upgrade its facilities in 1996 and 1997.  In addition, Avondale commited approximately $250 million to capital improvements over four years.

The Avondale history also dates back more than 100 years, to 1895, when Monroe Mill opened its doors for business in Monroe, Georgia, followed by Walton Mill in 1900, in the same town.  In 1897, the original Avondale Mills was founded and operations began at its Birmingham, Alabama plant. Both enterprises were founded by members of Tichenor and Felker familes, who are cousins, along with other investors.  By 1906, Walton Mills had doubled in size and then again in 1923. During World War II, Walton produced 60 million square yards of fabric for the war effort.

During the 1960's, Avondale had acquired two knitting mills near Asheville, North Carolina, but by the '80s, Avondale had exited both the knitted fabrics and sales businesses.  In 1975, it merged with Cowikee Mills, a business with  roots back to 1888 in Eufaula, Alabama.  Owner by the Comer family since 1913, Cowikee was a natural partner of Avondale.  A Tifton, Georgia plant, a part of Cowikee, remains today as one of Avondale's sales yarn plants.

In 1986, Avondale was acquired by Walton Monroe Mills, and the two companies have continued to operate as one. Avondale Mills Inc., an Alabama corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avondale Incorporated.  G. Stephen Felker is the chairman and chief executive officer of the merged companies, which is structured along divisional lines.  There are three operating divisions.  Avondale Fabrics produces denim and other apparel fabrics, as well as marketing the flannel fabric of Wade Manufacturing Company.  Avondale Yarns produces produces ring and open-end cotton, blended and spcialty yarns.  Walton Fabrics produces gray fabrics for home furnishings, apparel and industrial uses.

Two years later, the acquisition of the assets of Macfield Spinning, added two new plants to Avondale's growing yarn division.  Both plants, located near Sanford, North Carolina, reinfore Avondale's leadership position as a supplier of quality yarns for the knitting and weaving industries.

Avondale's denim goods range from printed and colored yarn-dyed styles to more traditional open-end products in weights from 8 to l5 ounces. It is a member of the ATMI Environmental Organization, and its product mix includes organically grown cotton staples.  Major customers include Osh Kosh B'Gosh, Wrangler, Canyon River Blues, The Gap and Health Tex.  Corporate offices are in Monroe, Georgia and Sylacauga, Alabama, and sales offices are in Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chicago, Greensboro, North Carolina, New York, San Francisco, Shillington, Pennsylvania and Kansas City, Kansas.