Hanesbrands Inc., the parent of Champion, announced plans to close its manufacturing facilities in Advance and Asheboro in North Carolina by the end of June 2008, leaving 120 employees without jobs. Production will be outsourced to Central America, Asia and other countries.


Workers affected by the plant closures will be eligible for severance and are encouraged to find work at the company's other locations. The company currently employs 7,500 in North Carolina.

“We regret the need to close these facilities and the effect it will have on our employees and their communities,” said Gerald Evans, Hanesbrands executive vice president and chief global supply chain officer. “These are well-run operations with very good workforces, but apparel has become a global industry. It is not cost effective for us to operate dedicated plants in the United States and then send these specialized fabrics offshore for inclusion in the production of our products.

The 37,000-square-foot Advance plant in Davie County, which knits the elastics, is located at 548 Highway 801 North. The 165,000-square-foot Asheboro plant in Randolph County, which finishes and stores the elastic fabric, is located at 100 Industrial Park.