In 1842, Johnson Woolen Mills began producing fabric from the wool of local sheep. As a need for strong, warm and comfortable clothing grew, the mill began producing woolen shirts, jackets and pants to accommodate the local community. Word quickly spread throughout northern Vermont about the quality and warmth of Johnson Woolen Mills clothing. Ice harvesters quickly realized the water resistant properties of woolen clothing, which made our green 28 oz. pants famously known as the "iceman pants". In the early 1900's, the high quality workmanship, warmth and comfort of Johnson Woolen Mill products gave hunters, loggers, fisherman and other outdoorsman a much needed advantage to Vermont's sub-zero temperatures. Over the next 100 years woolen products from our factory could be found in nearly every household in the northern United States. As we enter the 21st century, a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts are ready to challenge Mother Nature's elements and Johnson Woolen Mills brings a broader range of products and fashions to meet their needs. Backed by nearly 2 centuries of tradition, four generations of Vermont ownership and the pride of being hand-crafted in the USA, Johnson Woolen Mills is a world-wide source for rugged woolen outer wear for today's modern lifestyle.

A Tradition Of Quality...
Lead by Stacy Barrows Manosh, the fourth generation owner of Johnson Woolen Mills, traditions of quality, pride and hard work continue as handed down by her great-grandfather, grandfather and her dad. The company's modern manufacturing facility is just feet from the original mill, which serves as a reminder to Stacey and the entire staff of the longevity and commitment to quality Johnson Woolen Mills brings to each product and every customer. Traditional processes still remain at the mill such as, hand cutting, sewing, piecing, serging, and finishing of our traditionally patterned, checked, and plaid clothing lines.

 

Ingenuity and Environmentally Conscious...
From the very first day of operation, nearly 200 years ago, Johnson Woolen Mills understood the meaning of no waste. Every piece of wool, every stitch, every string and every shipping pallet had a value for the factory, it's customers or the staff. On the production line, a garment starts at one end of a room the size of a football field and is passes up the line of woolen and tailoring specialists, each of them bringing special talents to the construction of Johnson Woolen Mill products, while paying close attention not to waste a single piece of fabric. "We have our own way of cutting and sewing garments and a lot of people would like to know exactly how we do it", said Del Barrows, the mills third generation owner and father to Stacy. While many companies find themselves changing processes to help the environment, Johnson Woolen Mills uses time tested traditions of frugality and good business sense to be sure nothing is wasted at the mill. Material extras are used for mittens, fanny packs, flasks, wool rugs and other accessories, additional materials are sourced to local "cottage-industry" tailors and owners that freelance for the mill from their homes. The small scraps that are left over are bagged and carefully marked to be recycled, garneted and reused for woolen fabric, yarn or insulating products the world over.

A Tradition That Continues To Grow...
Many of the original and traditional plaids and patterns that began with Johnson Woolen Mills can still be purchased today. You can find Johnson Woolen Mills garments at many large retail outlets, our flagship store in Johnson, Vermont and we are especially proud to feature our products in small historic and country stores around the United States, Canada and our ever growing outlets in Europe and Asia. Thank you for choosing Johnson Woolen Mills where we integrate old world values with new world ideas to produce rugged woolen outerwear that you're sure to wear for a lifetime.