Valley Apparel L.L.C.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing manufacturing |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Knoxville, Tennessee , United States |
| Products | Military outerwear, flight jackets (36/P Flight Jacket, 45/P Flight Jacket, APECS Parka and Pants, USN Shipboard Jackets, N-3B Parka) |
| Owner | John Niethammer (since 2000) |
| Website | valleyapparel |
Valley Apparel L.L.C. is an American clothing manufacturer specializing in military outerwear and flight jackets, produced in Knoxville, Tennessee for the United States Armed Forces. Established in 1959 and operating independently since 2000, Valley caters to both civilian customers and the Department of Defense (DoD) with its military-style garments.
Founding
Robert Lane launched Superior Togs Corporation in New York City in 1948 to supply flight jackets to the DoD. After moving the company to Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1951, challenges with government contracts prompted Lane to reorganize the business as Rolen Sportswear, continuing its DoD manufacturing.
By 1957, Lane expanded operations by founding Dobbs Industries in Knoxville, Tennessee. This involved leasing production facilities from Levi Strauss & Co. and acquiring workforce and materials through Wynn Industries Group. Dobbs operated as a subcontractor for Rolen Sportswear until 1959, when Lane’s involvement in a bribery scandal led to the loss of their DoD contracts. In response, Samuel Gelber of Wynn Industries established a new firm to sustain military flight jacket production.
Formation of Valley Apparel
John Niethammer joined a Wynn Group subsidiary in 1961 to develop government quality control systems and rose to an executive role by 1982. In 2000, following a strategic division between commercial and military operations, Niethammer acquired the Knoxville manufacturing facilities from Alpha Industries and created Valley Apparel L.L.C., dedicating the company exclusively to DoD contracts.
Current Operations
Valley Apparel remains a prominent supplier of outerwear to the U.S. military, with expertise in Gore-Tex fabric technology. Since its separation from Alpha Industries, it has secured numerous military procurement agreements.
Product Line
Valley Apparel primarily produces: