A Tribute To Hanes Brands, Incorporated

A TRIBUTE TO HANES BRANDS, INCORPORATED -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2006)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today and honor Hanes Brands, Incorporated. Well over a century old, Hanes Brands started in 1901 when J. Wesley Hanes founded Shamrock Mills, a manufacturer of men's hosiery. In 1902, Pleasant Hanes founded the P.H. Hanes Knitting Company and began manufacturing two piece men's undergarments. In 1910, Shamrock Mills, the original production site for J. Wesley Hanes products, changed its name to Hanes Hosiery Mill and also began to manufacture women's hosiery.

As their businesses expanded, the two different Hanes companies merged in 1965. Then in 1988, Adams-Mills Sock Company was acquired and later would become the Sarah Lee Sock Company. Hanes went on to manufacture undershirts, briefs, sleepwear and knitted shorts. But this was only the start of an emerging company that would grow to become a leading manufacturer of undergarments to T-shirts, casual and active wear to socks.

It was the humble beginning of J. Wesley Hanes in 1901 that placed Hanes Brands on the path to a major corporation that currently employs 50,000 people. On September 6, 2006, Hanes Brands spun off from its parent company Sarah Lee and emerged as a publicly held and traded company with a net worth of $4.5 billion.

Hanes Brands sells high volume, high quality apparel, and can credit its success to anticipating what the consumer wants and working to meet those needs in value, fit, comfort and customer service.

It is the largest seller of apparel essentials in the United States. Last year, Hanes Brands manufactured and sold over 400 million T-shirts and nearly half a billion pairs of socks. Hanes Brands is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HBI. A recent survey showed that Hanes brands can be found in eight of ten American households.

Currently Hanes Brands manufactures some of the most commonly known clothing lines, such as Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, L'eggs, Just My Size, Hanes Hosiery, Barely There, Wonderbra and Outer Banks, as well as Duofold Performance Base Layer. Hanes Brands has grown into a full service clothing line and has established itself as a tremendous asset for Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Hanes Brands is a fantastic company that spurs economic growth and employs many people from the Fifth District of North Carolina. It is also a responsible corporate partner in the community, and I know it will continue to act in the future as an important neighbor in the community.

Hanes Brands' new emergence as a stand-alone company will provide opportunities in education, will support further economic development and will continue to build value and leadership within the community. I have no doubt that after 105 years in business, Hanes' commitment to the community will grow even stronger through the years. That is why North Carolina and Winston-Salem are blessed to have such a responsible and growth-oriented corporation headquartered there. The opportunities are limitless.

Not only does Hanes Brands have a long standing tradition of quality manufacturing and customer service, but Hanes Brands also adheres to strict values, which has made it successful and has clearly added to the longevity and popularity of the company. All persons involved with the company are proud of their work and reputation. They strive for the best, and that is what has made them so successful since their inception in 1901.

I believe some of the reasons for Hanes Brands' success are the four core principles it adheres to: Number one, integrity/ethical standards; two, inclusivity/diversity; three, quality/superior performance; and four, reliability/commitment.

It follows these values and understands that in order to succeed and become successful, it must set forth a mission statement, which it has. I believe it is a fantastic vision that sets a course for success and accomplishments.

Hanes Brands' mission statement is: ``To profitably grow our leading brands by intimately understanding our customers, out-executing our competition and leveraging our sustainable competitive advantage.''

With such forward thinking and dedication to its goals, it is no wonder that Hanes Brands is one of the most recognizable names in clothing and why eight out of ten American households have Hanes Brands products.

I cannot stress enough the importance of this move by Hanes Brands to become a separate company and how its new revitalized presence in Winston-Salem will bring so many wonderful opportunities to the local community.

I am proud to represent Hanes Brands and recognize it is an outstanding company and community leader. As a strong supporter of those people and companies which strive for success, all the while contributing to the community, I commend Hanes Brands for its continued commitment to excellence. I am eager to watch Hanes Brands progress and stand ready to assist in any way I can

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