The White Oak Legacy Foundation (WOLF), based in Greensboro, North Carolina, has announced the dates for its first two-day in-person “denim 101” course in 2022.
Many “industry standard” denim-making abilities were established, according to WOLF, in its eponymous mill (Greensboro’s ex-Cone Denim factory, White Oak), which was forced to close due to poor demand in 2017.
The organization, which is devoted to preserving the mill’s 112-year history, emphasized its dedication to passing on the knowledge of former White Oak employees to US students in the city long known as “Jeansboro,” where its experts will provide “world-class training.”
Classes will be held at Revolution Mill on March 29-30, with excursions of the adjoining Hill Spinning and White Oak Cotton Mill facilities to view ring spinning operations and functioning shuttle looms, respectively. (WOLF operators currently use the latter’s looms to create selvedge denim.)
Topics such as the history of jeans and the manufacturing of fiber and yarn will be thoroughly examined, as will dyeing, weaving, finishing, processing, and sustainability. E-commerce and packaging will be discussed during an evening wine and cheese event at Greensboro’s Wrangler shop.
Those interested in enrolling or learning more can send an email to denim101@wolfdenim.org. The cost of registration is $495.
