A Complete Guide to Mesh/Netting Fabric
Mesh fabrics, also known as netting, can be designed and manufactured in an almost... READ MORE
Insight Textiles Plant Manager Jimmy Dollarhite
Devin Steel, Publisher, eTextile Communications
Recently, I had the pleasure of riding up into the Appalachian Mountains to rural Woolwine, Va., (pop. 678) to visit Apex Mills’ newest production facility, Insight Textiles. I drove back down with the satisfaction of having learned of one company’s commitment to American manufacturing, its belief in the future of U.S. textiles, and its dedication to its communities.
Plant Manager Jimmy Dollarhite gave me a tour of the two-level, 243,000-square-foot plant, which Apex Mills purchased in January 2023 to expand its capabilities and open new opportunities, focusing on state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure, sustainability, and customer service
Dollarhite is a veteran of this site, having worked at the plant through four different company iterations: Liberty Fabrics, Sara Lee, HanesBrands, and now Insight Textiles. He has spent 29 years at the facility. Married young, he and his wife decided he would work full time to support the family while she attended college, postponing his own college education. After starting as a third-shift material handler in the finishing department, he advanced through various roles to become the plant manager. Along the way, he earned both his undergraduate degree and an MBA.
As Dollarhite showed me around the expansive, impressive facility, it was clear that he and his fellow employees take great pride in their work and see a promising future. Many employees have also spent years at the facility under previous ownership.
“Our employees take pride in knowing their work is important,” he said. “They know that some fabrics they make or process go into crucial industries such as the military, firefighting, law enforcement, or medical fields. We make sure they know what applications the fabrics they’re making are going into, such as airplane seatbacks, automotive interiors, or military vests. It’s rewarding when we get some of the finished products and can share them with our employees.”
Dollarhite also understands the significance of having an essential company focused on made-in-America products operating in the community.
“Being born and raised in this area, knowing that we can keep a facility like this open through the culture and people we have is very important to me,” he said. “I’m glad I can help lead and be a part of that. Being an American-made textile company can be tough, but there is still a very strong market for USA-made products, and that’s what we target and service.”
Steve Spangler-Dye Tech Lab Support/Section Leader in Dyeing Department (29 Years of Experience)
Photo by Devin Steele
Insight Textiles, with dozens of warp knitting machines, handles about a quarter of the company’s knitting capacity and dyes and finishes products for both its plants, including its Graham, N.C., facility.
“We’re doing very well at this plant,” Dollarhite said. “You worry a little when transitioning from one company to another, but Apex Mills has brought us a lot of business, especially for dyeing and finishing. This has helped us retain and regrow our employee base. We’re fully staffed and blessed to have generations of family members working here.”
You might say that Insight Textiles is a, well … close-knit operation.
“Our employees work with people they’ve known for years,” Dollarhite said. “They’re like close friends and, in a way, they feel like family. You spend more time with each other than with your own family some weeks. I enjoy being a part of this facility, and it doesn’t always feel like a job.”
Dollarhite said this supportive atmosphere starts at the top with Apex Mills President & CEO Jonathan Kurz, who bought the facility with plans for increased capacity, capabilities, and customer service.
“Jonathan is very down-to-earth and business-savvy,” Dollarhite said. “He treats the entire company like family, which is something you didn’t necessarily get from a Fortune 500 company.
Insight Textiles Plant Manager Jimmy Dollarhite stands in the
hallway showing banners representing the plant’s history.
He reintroduced several lost things, such as family day and a Christmas dinner. It’s the small things like that that make you feel valued and important to the company.”
There’s no doubt that Apex Mills’ commitment to innovation, community, and American manufacturing is palpable at Insight Textiles. Dollarhite and his team’s dedication, coupled with Kurz’s supportive leadership, highlights a company focused not just on business growth but also on fostering a strong, family-like workplace culture.
This visit reaffirmed the importance of investing in local communities and maintaining high standards in the textile industry. Apex Mills stands as a testament to the enduring value of made-in-America products, and I look forward to seeing their continued success and contributions to the industry.
Such a commitment to U.S. textiles is a mantra I love shouting from the mountaintop.
Reach your most challenging
textile goals with confidence.
