Osage sock factory to shut down this fall, 105 jobs lost
July 31st, 2025 by Ric Hanson
(Radio Iowa) – A long-time manufacturer of socks in northern Iowa will be closing later this year. According to the Iowa Workforce Development’s Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification website, Fox River Mills is planning to close on October 10th, impacting 105 workers. The company filed the notification with Iowa Workforce Development on Tuesday.
Fox River Mills has been making socks since 1900 and at one point employed as many as 150 people at their Osage facility. The company in 2016 was sold to a private equity firm, a move that marked a significant shift in its business trajectory.
The company was known for its annual “Fox River Sock Sale”, which would bring thousands of customers to the Mitchell County Fairgrounds in Osage.