The Clothing Center of the South

Drawn to the community by to the crossing of two railroads, the intersection of two U.S. highways, and a good supply of labor, brothers Robert, Roy, and Warren Sewell moved their growing apparel company from Atlanta to Bremen in 1928. Other clothing producers, such as New York-based Cluett, Peabody & Co., Inc., manufacturer of the iconic Arrow men's shirt, also built apparel plants in Bremen during the late 1920s. Both companies expanded operations several times in the following decades, building plants in nearby Buchanan, Bowdon, Temple, Douglasville, and Rome, Georgia as well as Heflin, Alabama.

The success of the Sewells spawned numerous other clothing manufacturers in Bremen, including the Hubbard Pants Company (1935), Warren Sewell Clothing Company (1945), The Ray Sewell Company (1955), and the Worley-Sewell Company (1963), among others. During the industry’s peak in the 1970s, some 2,500 Bremen area residents, most of whom were women, worked in the city’s apparel plants.

During the 1980s and 1990s, most of the city’s clothing manufacturers closed due to falling profits caused by foreign competition and the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994 (NAFTA). Two of the Sewell family businesses remained — Sewell Manufacturing and the Warren Sewell Clothing Company. In 2008, these companies merged as The Sewell Companies and shifted their headquarters to the “Plant Number One” building, which is part of Sewell Manufacturing Company on Pacific Avenue. Today, The Sewell Clothing Companies produces suits and military uniforms in Heflin, Alabama. These men’s suits, slacks, and sport coats can be purchased at the factory store in Bremen.

The history of these great companies and others like them is celebrated by the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail, a tourism initiative that explores the rich heritage of the textile industry in the west Georgia region, from Dalton to Columbus. Following along the Highway 27 corridor, the Trail highlights historic communities that played a vital role in the cotton, hosiery, apparel, chenille, and carpet industries. The Trail promotes public programs, exhibits, events, and other activities that highlight the textile industry and its impact on the region.

And there is much to do right here in Haralson County.

Things to Do

Bremen Spur Walking and Driving Tour: Explore Bremen’s historic downtown and textile past through the walking trail and wayside exhibit. Start with the three-sided kiosk across the street from City Hall on Tallapoosa Street; then, make your way over to Sewell Mill on Hamilton Avenue to see and learn about the Warren Sewell Clothing Company and Hubbard Pants Company; and, finally, end up next to The Sewell Companies on Pacific Avenue to learn about The Ray Sewell Company, the “Arrow Plant,” and Sewell Manufacturing Company. Each location has wayside interpretive panels with historic images. Learn more about this exhibit here, including clips from the music exhibit!
“Stitching the Fabric of Community in the West Georgia Region” Exhibit: This indoor exhibit shares the textile story of the Sewell Family in the central west Georgia region. This space is located in Sewell Mill Events Facility & Community Center, which is open to the public by appointment only. Please contact Sewell Mill at (404) 492-4336 or sewellmillbremen@gmail.com.
Sewell Factory Store: Buy a suit or check out the apparel produced by The Sewell Companies in the ground level of the Sewell Companies Building, which is home to their clothing store. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.

Places to See

The following properties are not open to the public, but you can view them from the exterior to learn more about the buildings that supported the textile industry here.

The Sewell Companies Building: This two-story building was the headquarters and Plant No.1 for Sewell Manufacturing from 1928-2008 and is now the headquarters for The Sewell Companies. Be sure to check out the historic Art Deco sign and clock and look nearby for our interpretive signs nearby!
The Ray Sewell Company building: This multi-story brick building on Alabama Avenue served as the headquarters for The Ray Sewell Company from the 1960s through the 1980s. Currently, this location houses the Bremen office of the Georgia Vision Institute.
Hubbard Pants Company and Georgia Converters Inc. Buildings: This building complex served as home for the Hubbard Pants Company and its manufacturing arm, Georgia Converters Inc. from 1935-2009. In 2017, the City of Bremen purchased this location. Look for the Trail signs across the street at Sewell Mill!
Cluett, Peabody & Co. (Arrow Shirt Co.) Building: This location is privately owned and is not open to the public. Drive by the “Arrow Plant” on South Buchanan Street. This building was the location of the Cluett, Peabody & Co. building between the late 1920s and 1991. Before Cluett came along this site was home to the first textiles in Bremen as Bremen Looms and later on as Bremen Mills. Today Arrow remains a registered trademark of Cluett, Peabody & Co., Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation. According to PVH, “Today Arrow is an authentic American lifestyle brand with a broad assortment of men's, women's and children's apparel and apparel-related products. Sold in over 55 countries worldwide.”

The Sewell Events and Community Center and Museum

The Sewell Mill building built in 1912 is located in the heart of downtown Bremen, Georgia at 126 Hamilton Avenue. Bremen is situated just off Interstate 20 about 45 miles west of Atlanta. Along with the city's bank, the Sewell building stands as on of the earliest structures remaining today. Its original purpose was that of a cotton warehouse.

The building was purchased by the Sewell brothers, Warren and Robert Sewell in 1918 to serve as the South's first successful manufacturing facility of men's suits and sport coats. For a brief period during World War I, the plant was used to produce garments for the United States Military. After the war, the factory returned to making civilian clothing and from the Sewell brother's success, numerous other manufacturing factories began. These companies became prominent producers of tailored men's and ladies apparel and established Bremen's reputation as "The Clothing Center of the South".

Once a prominent railroad town, Bremen today serves as an ideal location because of accessibility to the interstate and its proximity to Atlanta. The multi-use facility is housed in a 12,000 square-foot building that has been updated to adhere to all building codes. The physical space within the building is divided into a combination of areas varying from business offices to ballroom size facilities.Member Organizations on the Trail:

Sewell Mill Events Facility & Community Center features historic photographs throughout and the “Stitching the Fabric of Community in the West Georgia Region” exhibit with interactive station of the Bremen Spur wayside exhibit. Visit at 126 Hamilton Ave, Bremen, GA 30110. For information on events, contact Hannah Porter at (678) 492-4336 or Kelli Weaver at (404) 376-6055.

The Center for Public History of the University of West Georgia’s Department of History manages the Textile Trail with a dedicated staff of faculty and students. For more information about the Trail or to become a member, call the Center for Public History at 678-839-6141 or email the Trail. Information for this page was sourced from the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail website.