A photo essay that tells an American textile manufacturing story in three parts: the final days of operation at the White Oak Mills in Greensboro, North Carolina; closure; and rebirth making selvedge denim again under the care of the White Oak Legacy Foundation and Proximity Manufacturing Company
American Denim aims to preserve a unique property and a unique time in the history of American textiles. At one time the worlds largest denim mill, occupying more than a million square feet, you almost couldnt see where the looms ended at the White Oak mill in Greensboro, North Carolina. Between 1915 and 1970, the lions share of denim produced for Levi Strauss & Co. was made there.

Photographer Matt Sharkey was the only person granted access to all three recent stages of the White Oak mills life:

the last week of commercial production in December 2017,
empty and vacated in February 2018, and
brought back to life in a small but mighty way in September 2022.

Here is a layered history told through beautifully honest “portraits” that were captured with film, an analog process to honor analog manufacturing and those who worked, and work, at the mill.By Matt Sharkey and Foreword by Evan Morrison and Ralph B. TharpeMatt Sharkey is a photographer located in Northern Californias Sonoma County. His primary subjects are people and places with a particular interest in holding on to moments in time. Preferring to work slowly and intentionally, he captures images almost exclusively with film.
200 color imagesThe Supposed Final Days and Resurgence of a Manufacturing Icon200 color images