YouTube video with footage and interviews from Maine Thread and Rancourt
Maine Thread
- selling since 1965
- manufacturing there since 1985
- tons of local shoe companies in the 1960s
- late 70s, starting moving offshore due to cheaper labor
- shoe industry used to be 90% of business, now maybe 60%
- shows tapers
- shows braiding machines running
- employs 6
- exports a lot of production
Rancourt
- father immigrated from Quebec in the 1950s
- started own shoe shop
- hand sewing rhythm mesmerizing
- sold factory to original Quoddy
- stayed with them about ten years
- got bought out
- not interested in mass production
- in 1982, started new company with son
- never thought of moving
- mix of new immigrants and second-generation workers
- Lewiston tight-knit community, can call to borrow supplies