Alstyle Heads to Agua Prieta

Anaheim-based black T-shirt maker Alstyle Apparel & Activewear, a subsidiary of Midlothian, Texas–based Ennis Inc., announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Agua Prieta, Mexico. According to a statement, the company selected the border town, located near Douglas and Tucson, Ariz., because of its employee base, natural resources, favorable climate and trade-corridor access to North America. The new facility is expected to cost more than $35 million to build. The 700,000-square-foot factory will be vertically integrated, housing knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing and distribution. The company expects capacity to eventually exceed 2 million pounds of fabric per week and employment to reach 2,500. The facility is slated to open in summer 2009 and be in operation by fall 2009.