Steve Gann
Sandra 1
Nokona: Still Stitching After 75 Years
May 22nd 2009 03:37
There are just certain things you remember in life. Your first car, that elusive first kiss, and for baseball fanatics like me, your first baseball glove. I remember the distinct smell of the aged leather, I could recall how every battle scar came to give the old rawhide its unique character. I can to this day close my eyes and see the tanned beauty in its special place under my bed, ball resting inside always ready for the neighborhood pick-up game.
Thankfully for purists like me, the only American company that produces these childhood dreams is back after a fire nearly closed the factory doors forever. The Nocona Athletic Goods Company is headquartered in tiny Nocona, TX. They have been hand lacing gloves since 1934. The name Nokona was chosen for their gloves because patent laws forbid trademarking a city name. The fire in 2006 that severely damaged the building temporally halted production as workers became amateur carpenters and painters to rebuild the factory. Not one employee was let go or even went without a check during the production shutdown.
Not only does the company produce great gloves, they are also preserving a dying breed of craftsman.
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