John Wesley Hanes was born on February 3, 1850 to Alexander Martin Hanes and Jane March. His family, having German roots, settled near the Moravian settlement of Salem in 1774. Raised in Fulton, Davie County, North Carolina, Hanes was educated alongside his many siblings in Fulton community schools and at home by his mother. He also helped on his family’s farm near Mocksville, learning basic managerial skills and valuable business acumen. John Wesley Hanes then went on to attend Trinity College (now Duke University) in the late 1860s and early 1870s.
In 1872, Hanes and his brother, Pleasant Henderson Hanes, established P. H. Hanes and Company to manufacture tobacco. The latter had experience in the industry, and their entrepreneurial venture was promising due to P.H.’s past as a salesman and John Wesley’s ability to manage. P. H. Hanes and Company became one of the leading chewing tobacco producers in the country, and the brothers eventually sold their business to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company at the turn of the 20th century.
Following the sale of his first company (which would have allowed him to retire immediately), John Wesley Hanes demonstrated his true entrepreneurial spirit when he decided to enter the growing textile industry. In 1901, he founded Shamrock Knitting Mills at 50 years old. This new venture was focused on producing high-quality knit stockings, aiming to provide comfortable and durable products to its customer base. Hanes bought a four-story building in Winston and began operations manufacturing children’s and men’s socks. Shamrock Mills was later renamed to the more recognizable Hanes Hosiery Mills in 1914 and began selling garments for women in 1918.
John Wesley Hanes’ approach to business set Shamrock Mills apart. He was able to differentiate himself from competitors early on through a focus on producing stockings, and his commitment to quality as well as his employees allowed the company to thrive. Unfortunately, Hanes died just two years after the company’s founding. Management was passed to his son James Gordon, and Shamrock Mills and Hanes Hosiery continued to grow under Hanes’ original vision.
Continuing the precedent set by John Wesley Hanes, Hanes Hosiery Mills maintained high standards and responded quickly to market demands. In 1911, Shamrock Knitting Mills built a new mill in what is now downtown Winston-Salem. The building held 200 knitting machines and 200 employees on just one story due to the fact that multiple-story buildings could not withstand the vibration of the newest, fastest looms. Due to Hanes’ leadership during its inception, Hanes Hosiery Mills eventually grew to become the largest producer of circular knit hosiery in the world.
John Wesley Hanes was one of Winston-Salem’s wealthiest and most influential businessmen. His entrepreneurial success had a profound economic impact on the city, attracting other businesses and creating numerous job opportunities for locals. Hanes Hosiery’s 1911 mill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now houses the Sawtooth School for Visual Art. Hanes was also dedicated to building the economy of the Piedmont region at large. He was on the board of directors of several banks, and served as President of the Roanoke and Southern Railroad.
In addition to service to his community, Hanes valued philanthropy. He supported initiatives in education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. In 1947, Hanes’ children and grandchildren established the John Wesley and Anna Hodgin Hanes Foundation, which provides grants “to improve the lives of the citizens of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and North Carolina.”
John Wesley Hanes passed away of heart troubles at 53 years old in September 1903. His life and work embody the spirit of entrepreneurship that continues to thrive in Winston-Salem today. In 1965, Hanes Hosiery Mills merged with P.H. Hanes Knitting Company, founded by Hanes’ brother and former business partner. Hanes Hosiery then became known as Hanes Corporation. Since 1979, the Hanes brand has been a part of the Sara Lee Corporation. The company John Wesley Hanes founded grew into an international leader in apparel known for its outstanding quality, and his story is a testament to the impact that visionary leadership, innovation, and commitment to service can have on both a local and global scale.
