Blank apparel manufacturer Gildan Activewear Inc., which has a large presence in North Carolina, is closing one of its eight production facilities. As a result, 258 workers will be laid off, as reported by the Charlotte Business Journal.

The company will close one of two Gildan Yarns manufacturing plants in Salisbury, located at 2121 Heilig. The facility is expected to close on Dec. 8.

“This facility is being closed as part of Gildan’s plan to continue to balance production and inventory levels to drive an efficient and competitive manufacturing platform,” Jim Powers, director of human resources for Gildan Yarns, wrote in the letter to inform the N.C. Commerce Department of the layoffs in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

According to Business North Carolina magazine, employees will have the opportunity to transfer to other operations in Salisbury and Mocksville. In 2022, Gildan closed a Mebane, North Carolina, distribution facility, affecting 128 employees who were also offered the opportunity to transfer to a new location.

“The company has 45,000 employees around the world. In the second quarter, it produced revenue of $840 million, down from $896 a year earlier. Its net income was down slightly to $155 million in the second quarter from $158 million last year,” according to Business North Carolina.