Osage, Iowa-based Fox River Mills, the oldest continuing operating manufacturer of specialty and high-quality socks in the United States, has announced the closure of its Osage, Iowa, manufacturing facility on October 10, 2025.
The closure will see the layoff of all employees, estimated at 105 workers.
No detailed public explanation has been provided in news reports or official statements for why Fox River Mills is closing its Osage manufacturing facility.
Globalization and the expansion of offshoring have significantly harmed the U.S. textile industry. Over the past few decades, jobs in textile and apparel manufacturing have plummeted, with employment falling by nearly two-thirds as production moved to countries offering cheaper labor and lower production costs.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?