Red Flannel
Factory
Welcome
to
our
tradition
The Red Flannel Tradition
The Red Flannel Factory is located in Cedar Springs, Michigan, otherwise known as the Red Flannel Capital!
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Learn about our company's history and the rich tradition.
Our Story
Get to Know Red Flannel Factory
One of Michigan's Oldest Traditions
It all began in 1936 in the midst of the worst winter in years.
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The whole country suffered in the grip of heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures. A New York feature writer bemoaned the fact: "Here we are in the midst of an old-fashioned winter and there are no red flannels in the USA to go with it."
The local newspaper, The Cedar Springs Clipper, owned and edited by "The Clipper Gals" Nina Babcock and Grace Hamilton, answered the writer with the RED HOT editorial stating:
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" Just because Sak's Fifth Avenue does not carry red flannels, it doesn't follow that no one in the country does. CEDAR SPRINGS' merchants have red flannels.
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The story was picked up by the Associated Press and orders began pouring in from all over the USA.
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1949 saw the true start of red flannel manufacturing with Mae Oppeneer stitching undies in her home, and in 1952 the business became known as the Francis Lee Red Flannel Factory. Soon, the business grew into an industry, underwear was now being stitched on machines at the Cedar Springs Red Flannel Factory.
Sadly, the factory suffered some setbacks over the years and in 1994 closed with the headlines predicting, No red flannels in '95. However, local businesswomen kept red flannel production going in Cedar Springs because they believed that red flannels were just too important to fade away.
Through the efforts of seventeen seamstresses, family, and friends, there were red flannels not only in '95 but every year since. In 2007, the company was purchased by one of the seamstresses in an effort to keep the red flannel spirit alive. The company will be called the Red Flannel Factory once more. With wholesale and internet tools, Red Flannel Factory, LLC hopes to cover the world in red flannels!
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Where we are Today
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In 2022, the current owner decided to step away and retire. In a chance conversation with a local businesswoman, Courtney Haynes heard that Pamela was looking to retire and had not yet received any offers. After discussing it with her husband, Justin and Courtney Haynes made the decision to purchase the Red Flannel Factory and keep the tradition alive.
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Justin and Courtney are both 1995 graduates of Cedar Springs High School and have been blessed to call this wonderful town their home.
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They are looking forward to keeping this amazing tradition alive and once again covering the world in Red Flannels.
Thank you for helping keep this tradition alive.