From its beginning in 1891, Cone Denim has been a leading supplier of denim to top apparel brands. Formed out of the entrepreneurial spirit of brothers Moses and Ceasar Cone and grounded in American heritage, Cone Denim is synonymous with authenticity and innovation. The turn of the century brought a new energy and excitement to America. Denim fabrics gained popularity as a favored “workwear”, and the Cone brothers embarked on what would become an icon in the denim industry, a mill called White Oak.
Cone Denim & White Oak Shop
White Oak Mill
The mill was named for the 200 year old tree that stood nearby and served as a gathering place for people traveling to Greensboro from the surrounding countryside. Construction began in 1902, and the first bobbin of yarn was produced on April 20, 1905. Known from the beginning as an innovator in denim, White Oak focused exclusively on denim throughout its history. White Oak successfully combined the tradition of producing high-quality products with a heritage of cultivating strong relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and its community.
White Oak Mill
The mill was named for the 200 year old tree that stood nearby and served as a gathering place for people traveling to Greensboro from the surrounding countryside. Construction began in 1902, and the first bobbin of yarn was produced on April 20, 1905. Known from the beginning as an innovator in denim, White Oak focused exclusively on denim throughout its history. White Oak successfully combined the tradition of producing high-quality products with a heritage of cultivating strong relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and its community.
Denim Heritage
A pioneer in early denim innovation, White Oak revolutionized denim processing in 1921 with its patented continuous dye range, a process still used throughout the indigo world today.
Other White Oak innovations included weaving denim on shuttleless weaving machines, designing and building a continuous raw stock dyeing machine for cotton, dyeing a denim that was easier to stonewash, and using high-volume instrument technology to test cotton properties.
In 1936 Cone Introduced CONE Deeptone Denim® to the workwear trade. Used primarily for overalls rather than jeans, the ad slogan “improves your overall appearance” reflected Cone Denim’s reputation for quality, durability and style.
Cone denim. A true original.
White Oak continuously produced denim from 1905 to 2017, demonstrating more than 112 years of denim leadership. The White Oak legacy lives on as a tribute to the talent, dedication and innovation of generations of employees, customers and denim enthusiasts that are forever a part of the brand heritage and innovative spirit that will always be the heart and soul of Cone Denim. Today Cone Denim maintains its headquarters in North Carolina with a global platform that includes denim operations in Mexico and China and a team of R&D, merchandising, product design and sales talent across the world. The Cone Denim legacy continues to inspire with a passion that brings together the best in denim art and science and an unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability and industry expertise.