LEVI'S TO CLOSE 11 PLANTS IN SHIFT TO OFFSHORE PRODUCTION--JEANS MAKER TO LAY OFF 5,900, SAYS REMAINING U.S. PLANTS ARE VIABLE FOR QUICK TURNS, FASHION PRODUCTION.(Company Profile)

Daily News Record, February, 1999 by Knight, Molly

NEW YORK -- Levi Strauss & Co. said its 11 remaining owned-and-operated manufacturing facilities in North America are viable and the jeans giant has no plans to close them.

On Monday, Levi's announced plans to close half of its onshore manufacturing plants and ship work overseas, laying off 5,900 employees and raising speculation that the jeans giant might eventually move all its manufacturing offshore.

According to Linda Butler, spokesperson for Levi's, the remaining 11 manufacturing factories will not only provide quick turnaround for basic and fashion products, but will accommodate the jeans giant's plans to introduce more special -product programs. Those programs are thought to include Original Spin, Levi's custom-jeans program. "One of the...

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