Very interesting article this morning about the mills and Warren Buffett buying Berkshire Hathaway. I am in Connecticut Valley region where Norwich free Academy has a museum named after Slater. I will trace if it’s the same one. All the mills now have been turned into condos after significant renovation, taking out flooring. I wonder now if we could ever sustain actually rebuilding mills to make textiles again. Williamantic, CT and Norwich area were thread and cloth.
It’s very sad now. Joann fabric is going out of business, but it’s really the time we we need to make our own clothes in America.
I would love for you to do a follow up article based on that. Could we make fabrics and textiles again affordably ?
“Could we make fabrics and textiles again affordably ?”
Nope. No one wants to do this work and everyone wants more money. No one wants to invest in infrastructure that is all being converted into loft apartments, business and restaurant space.
Probably not. I grew up in what used to be a huge textile manufacturing state in the South, North Carolina. There were mills everywhere throughout the state making beautiful fabrics, from the weaving of to the dying and finishing. We had outlet stores and discount stores available everywhere. We made upholstery fabrics for what was once a booming furniture industry. We made underwear, socks, jeans, blankets, sheets; you name it we made it. We made all kinds of clothes in every price range. If anyone is familiar with the clothing line Bon Worth, it was started in my adopted hometown by a man who went to a friend of mine to ask her to come up with simple patterns for women’s clothes that could be easily and inexpensively made. Like so many textile industries, it was very successful; until it wasn’t. If I remember correctly, the decline began slowly but globalization, old plants and machinery made these once thriving businesses either shut down rather than invest in upgrades or sell to what would turn out to be a raider. Also, overseas labor was cheaper even than southern labor and benefits, so off-shoring played a huge part in the collapse. According to the article I’m using for this information which looks to be a report for a TV segment in Greensboro, NC by a Manning Franks on Feb. 6, 2025, the textile business began its decline around 1990. He cited a NC Dept. of Commerce report that said “between 1993 and 2022, employment in textiles dropped 85%”.
There may be small, niche businesses that make their products in the US but we will never see a revival of what used to be. To handle the demand created by over 330M people would take years.
I haven't cared for air travel for quite some time & air traffic controllers are known to have a stressful job. The decline in numbers, btw, has been happening before the newest administration. Plus the information about DEI hires didn't help
The discovered treasure is an interesting story. I'm surprised at the estimated worth of $680,000. I would think it would be more.
Well Bill, you got to write about your favorite subject today. I wondered if you would be doing so when I saw the headlines about Mr Buffet’s rather sudden announcement of his retirement. He’s been at it so long, I’m wondering how he’ll handle not working and being so intimately involved with B-H. I hope he does well and that there’s no underlying reason for such an abrupt decision.
I had read about most of your 7 except for the woman who had up and disappeared only to be discovered via her Ancestry account. Apparently she was ok with her info being given out the way it was. Not sure I would be though. Goes to show that nothing digital is safe at all.
The eyelash shaving is a horrible idea. The fools who do it can run into all sorts of problems. They do serve a purpose. Talk about having such a fragile ego you’d do such a thing. Maybe we should have been created with nictitating membranes instead of eyelashes?
Good stuff as always. Looking forward to the rest of the week. Hope you are as well.
Very interesting article this morning about the mills and Warren Buffett buying Berkshire Hathaway. I am in Connecticut Valley region where Norwich free Academy has a museum named after Slater. I will trace if it’s the same one. All the mills now have been turned into condos after significant renovation, taking out flooring. I wonder now if we could ever sustain actually rebuilding mills to make textiles again. Williamantic, CT and Norwich area were thread and cloth.
It’s very sad now. Joann fabric is going out of business, but it’s really the time we we need to make our own clothes in America.
I would love for you to do a follow up article based on that. Could we make fabrics and textiles again affordably ?
“Could we make fabrics and textiles again affordably ?”
Nope. No one wants to do this work and everyone wants more money. No one wants to invest in infrastructure that is all being converted into loft apartments, business and restaurant space.
Probably not. I grew up in what used to be a huge textile manufacturing state in the South, North Carolina. There were mills everywhere throughout the state making beautiful fabrics, from the weaving of to the dying and finishing. We had outlet stores and discount stores available everywhere. We made upholstery fabrics for what was once a booming furniture industry. We made underwear, socks, jeans, blankets, sheets; you name it we made it. We made all kinds of clothes in every price range. If anyone is familiar with the clothing line Bon Worth, it was started in my adopted hometown by a man who went to a friend of mine to ask her to come up with simple patterns for women’s clothes that could be easily and inexpensively made. Like so many textile industries, it was very successful; until it wasn’t. If I remember correctly, the decline began slowly but globalization, old plants and machinery made these once thriving businesses either shut down rather than invest in upgrades or sell to what would turn out to be a raider. Also, overseas labor was cheaper even than southern labor and benefits, so off-shoring played a huge part in the collapse. According to the article I’m using for this information which looks to be a report for a TV segment in Greensboro, NC by a Manning Franks on Feb. 6, 2025, the textile business began its decline around 1990. He cited a NC Dept. of Commerce report that said “between 1993 and 2022, employment in textiles dropped 85%”.
There may be small, niche businesses that make their products in the US but we will never see a revival of what used to be. To handle the demand created by over 330M people would take years.
thanks for the history about Buffett
I haven't cared for air travel for quite some time & air traffic controllers are known to have a stressful job. The decline in numbers, btw, has been happening before the newest administration. Plus the information about DEI hires didn't help
The discovered treasure is an interesting story. I'm surprised at the estimated worth of $680,000. I would think it would be more.
Dang! Missed my chance to buy BH stock at only $90k! Oh well…story of my life. At least I don’t feel the need to trim my eyelashes. Yikes!
Well Bill, you got to write about your favorite subject today. I wondered if you would be doing so when I saw the headlines about Mr Buffet’s rather sudden announcement of his retirement. He’s been at it so long, I’m wondering how he’ll handle not working and being so intimately involved with B-H. I hope he does well and that there’s no underlying reason for such an abrupt decision.
I had read about most of your 7 except for the woman who had up and disappeared only to be discovered via her Ancestry account. Apparently she was ok with her info being given out the way it was. Not sure I would be though. Goes to show that nothing digital is safe at all.
The eyelash shaving is a horrible idea. The fools who do it can run into all sorts of problems. They do serve a purpose. Talk about having such a fragile ego you’d do such a thing. Maybe we should have been created with nictitating membranes instead of eyelashes?
Good stuff as always. Looking forward to the rest of the week. Hope you are as well.