WHO WE ARE

Our History

Cone Denim Mills. A True Original.
Our legacy is closely tied to the development of denim as we know it today. Numerous industry firsts have made us a trusted denim supplier since 1891.

Cone to complete rooftop solar power project at Cone Denim’s mill in Jiaxing, China. The solar rooftop will generate 10 megawatt-hours annually for the plant.

Solar Panel (1)

Cone Denim returns to its roots at Revolution Mill with its Greensboro, N.C., division office relocating to the former flannel mill.

 

Cone renews RCS certification to include a fiber supplier, establishing a supply chain for certified recycled cotton in Mexico.

 

Also this year, Cone Denim installs G2 Jeanologia Ozone finishing technology in Jiaxing and Yecapixtla to further enhance water-saving initiatives.

Recycled Cotton
Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.00.33 PM

Cone installs a new, state-of-the-art, Zero Liquid Discharge wastewater treatment system at its mill in Parras, Northern Mexico. Elevate Textiles, Cone Denim’s parent company, receives approval for Science Based Targets.

2C5A2704

Cone partners with Oritain to become the first denim mill to offer forensic verification of  cotton traceability.

 

Also this year, Cone Denim installs G2 Jeanologia Ozone finishing technology in Jiaxing and Yecapixtla to further enhance water-saving initiatives.

Oritain_Horz_Full Col_White

Cone Denim partners with Westex® by Milliken® to produce flame-resistant denim. Also this year, Cone Denim returns to its roots with the unveiling of Natural Indigo Selvage Denim, produced exclusively at its historic White Oak mill in celebration of White Oak’s 110-year anniversary.

 

Cone installs a Co-Generation Power Plant at Cone Denim Parras, providing 90% of electrical needs.

 

Cone launches the first Cone Community fabric collection.

Cone launches Cone 3D, an R&D incubator for technical product innovation, focusing on new technologies. Innovation efforts are focused on the areas of performance, comfort, uniqueness, and sustainability.

Cone Denim Innovation

Cone Denim debuts its Sustainblue line of eco-friendly denim fabrics.

 

Cone patents S Gene®  Yarn Technology, the first of its kind. This new yarn, with dual core technology, is designed to optimize stretch and maximize recovery.

S-Gene-
SustainBlue

Cone Denim celebrates 100 years!

Cone Denim Who We Are Heritage Innovation Sustainability

Pinto Wash denim is born after hurricane flooding soaked millions of yards of fabric. To salvage the goods, the fabrics were processed through a solution to randomly remove dye. This resulted in the unique appearance of Cone’s own Pinto Denim. It was picked up by retailers worldwide and became an immediate success.

 

Cone Denim is the first mill to add skew to fabrics.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.24.26 PM

Cone Mills is the first producer in the U.S. to manufacture and market stretch denim. The company maintained its leadership in work clothing fabrics but continued to develop this new type of product for the growing casual and sportswear clothing markets.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.27.37 PM

Sustainability becomes a core focus; Cone develops and builds wastewater treatment plants. Later, a federal  mandate would require other mills to follow suit.

 

1941: Half Century

Cone Denim celebrates its first 50 years.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.30.59 PM

Cone launches Deeptone Denim™, an innovation that quickly gains success in the marketplace due to its durable “leathery”  finish, and steadfast promise of stay-fast color and durability

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.33.36 PM

After investigating the new Sanforizer® machines invented by Sanford Cluett, Cone launches Sanforized® denim. Its production reaches 75 million yards per year.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.36.47 PM

Levi’s begins buying denim from Cone Mills – the two companies agree to do business with a handshake that has continued for over 100 years.

 

Cone develops the Indigo Rope Dye Range at its White Oak Plant and receives a patent for the continuous rope indigo dyeing machine

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.40.42 PM

White Oak Cotton Mill starts producing denim, soon to become the largest denim mill in the world.  By 1910, White Oak was supplying a third of the world’s denim demand.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.42.14 PM

Proximity Cotton Mills, the Cone brothers’ first mill, begins weaving denim in close “proximity” to the cotton fields, gins, warehouse, and rail lines.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.43.39 PM

Brothers Moses and Ceasar Cone establish the Cone Export and  Commission Company in New York City.

Screenshot 2024-10-03 at 12.45.04 PM