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WNC Business

A Century of Textile Tradition and Technological Advancement in WNC

Sep 11, 2024 06:32PM ● By Randee Brown

The history of textile manufacturing in the Western North Carolina region spans more than 100 years. Eerst Nederlandsche Kunstzijdekfabriek Arnhem, or American Enka, has been manufacturing textile products in WNC since 1929. 

When the Dutch company came to the area, they invested millions of dollars in infrastructure, and created thousands of jobs — 600 people were hired in the construction phase alone — reaching a staff of 3,000 people with annual payroll around $5 million by 1940. With such a significant employee base, the surrounding community of Enka, named after the factory, was flourishing.

During World War II, they were asked by the federal government to produce items for military efforts including uniforms, parachutes, bandages, and more, similar to products currently produced by Mills Manufacturing in Woodfin.

Today, the same plant, acquired by Freudenberg Performance Materials, manufactures construction, engineering, and technical textiles used in a variety of applications. According to Marketing and Communications Manager Carrie Smith, their products are included in green roofs, civil engineering projects, and for sound absorption and filtration.

“We’re seeing a lot of growth projected for the next five years, especially in building and construction,” Smith said. “We serve several different markets. While that sector is projected to grow, the supply and demand in the vehicle market is projected to go down. The positive thing is that what they’re making in Asheville is projected to keep up with US demand, so here, manufacturing of those products is projected to continue increasing.”

With the population increasing rapidly in WNC, non-woven textiles used in construction will continue to be in demand. Large producers of carpeting like Mohawk Industries will continue to use the non-woven textile products made by these companies, as local construction companies work to meet housing demands in the area.

Other companies in and around Buncombe County continue the regional tradition of textile manufacturing. Companies like Spiritex, Valiant, Glatfelter, Sew Co., and more produce a variety of textiles, and others, like the historic Beacon Blanket mill, are currently being repurposed to continue manufacturing products for a variety of sectors.

With a nod to the area’s textile tradition as well as a focus on the region’s outdoor recreation industry, companies like Diamond Brand Gear and Eagles Nest Outfitters currently manufacture textile products like tents and hammocks used by outdoor enthusiasts all over the world.

This type of manufacturing supports a plethora of applications in use across the globe, but working for these types of businesses has become something of a hometown tradition for residents of WNC communities. 

For several current Freudenberg employees, the experience of working at the same place their grandparents once did brings a bit of nostalgia and additional interest in the work being done at this site, according to Smith. She said the people have always been prioritized here, and a uniquely tight-knit community exists in Enka’s factory. 

“It’s a little bit different than what they have in places like Durham,” Smith said. “It just has a nice, cheerful kind of feeling about it. These people take a lot of pride in working at this 100-year-old plant in a sector that has been prominent for a century. Combine that with the family tradition aspect, and it creates something really special.”