Nygard to close last Winnipeg sewing plant

Nygard Manufacturing is shutting the doors on its last sewing factory in Winnipeg, blaming a shortage of fabric for the closure.

About 250 people will lose their jobs when the Notre Dame Avenue plant closes on May 16.

Company spokeswoman Sharon Clarke said the fabric needed for Nygard's "Feathertouch" pants is no longer being manufactured in North America. The company is now looking for an offshore supplier and will manufacture the pants outside the continent.

The high Canadian dollar was also a factor in the decision to shut down the plant, Clarke said.

Nygard will continue to employ about 900 people in Winnipeg in design, retail and IT operations. Nygard stores and tailoring shops will remain open.

Garment industry dwindles

The closure is the latest in the garment industry, which was once the second-largest industry in Manitoba. 

In 1997, about 9,000 people worked in the industry; today, that number has dwindled to 2,000 as many major players moved their manufacturing plants from Winnipeg.

While needle trades may be shrinking, Winnipeg is keeping its design and marketing sectors in the garment industry, said Ron Koslowski, Manitoba spokesman for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters business association.

"That's where a lot of the value is added," he said. "The pure manufacturing — just putting together the clothes — is actually a very small percentage of the total value of the end product."

Factories in Bangladesh are able to produce a pair of jeans for $4, he said, which makes it virtually impossible for local manufacturers to compete.

The garment manufacturers that remain are mainly small and cater to niche or boutique markets, he said.