Firm foots it with the best
10.05.11
Farm Fleck socks are as ubiquitous in rural New Zealand as gumboots. JILL GALLOWAY went to the Kiwi Sock Company at Norsewood, to talk about what you wear in your boots.
Successive governments' pursuit of free trade agreements has depleted the manufacturing base and that has left it poorer, says Wayne Russell, from the Kiwi Sock Company.
"It has been a downward spiral, as manufacturers have to compete with imported goods, margins are squeezed and we are now looking at a low-wage economy."
Mr Russell is manager and a co-owner, along with Scanpower (the southern Hawke's Bay community-owned power company) and John Hughes, from Manawatu Knitting Mills.
The sock company works from the Norsewear building at Norsewood. The Kiwi Sock Company is still the manufacturer and distributor for Norsewear as well as producing socks for its own brands. They go under the names of 70 Mile Bush (work socks) and Duthie and Bull (dress socks).
The Kiwi Sock Company also provides socks to the Defence Force, police and Conservation Department.
Source: Manawatu Standard