Granite Knitwear -- Filling a Need for Quality Sportswear Manufactured in the USA

Granite Knitwear, now entering its third generation as a family-owned business, was established in 1968 by Frank and Mary Jones. For the first six years, the company concentrated on  building up its wholesale customer base and expanding its knit products.

By 1974 the demand for t-shirts as outerwear was increasing dramatically. To enter this retail market Cal Cru company was created, a label was designed, and a sales force was formed. Cal Cru is short for “California Crew,” which was a take off on the Hi-Crew brand that Stedman (now part of Hanes) had made popular.

Since then the company grew steadily and was well known in the imprintables market as a small bur innovative supplier to that market. We were the first to introduce women’s colors like pink and lilac in basic t-shirts. Cal Cru almost always had some sort of unique style that others emulated.

With the advent of the NAFTA and GATT trade agreements, the company has shifted its focus. While we still maintain the Cal Cru label a d a small in-stock program for American-made t’s, more of our business centers on custom styles and private labeling for other manufacturers.

Currently, a significant percentage of our production is sold to companies who further process our products by garment dying them. Having product manufactured domestically is important to them, as fabric consistency and quality workmanship are crucial factors in achieving this rich weathered look. With imports, fabric consistency is suspect.

Some of the styles that are currently produced and/or stocked include Coolmax Extreme t-shirts and tanks for men and women, 100% cotton basic t’s in youth XS to adult 6X, beach cover-ups, crop tanks, tank dresses, ladies’ French terry tops, pocket t’s, micro-stripe t-shirts for adults & youths, heavy-weight ridge t-shirts, Henley placket adult t-shirts in 7.2 ounce fabrications, adult and youth shorts, youth’s and infant’s custom garment programs. We also offer folding, bagging, polybagging, screen printing, heat transfers, and embroidery.

Now moving into 40 years of business, the company is still a family operation, run by Mike, Sandy, and Mary (Floyd) Jones.

For more information, visit www.calcru.com.