Struggling jeans maker Levi Strauss said today it would close its remaining North American plants and cut nearly 2,000 jobs.
The job cuts and plant closures complete a long exit from the US manufacturing business that began more than 20 years ago.
After it closes its remaining North American plants - in San Antonio, Texas; Edmonton, Alberta; and Stoney Creek, Ontario - the company will outsource manufacturing to plants all around the world, many in Latin America.
The cuts and closures are part of the latest restructuring at the privately held 150-year-old company, an American icon that has been forced to move its production overseas to remain competitive.
The company that introduced jeans to the world and watched their transformation from the basic work apparel of the wild west to a fashion fixture in the 1950s and 1960s has recently fallen on hard times.
Although blue jeans are more popular and ever, Levi Strauss has lost its market dominance as cheaper discount brands and pricey designer labels have cut deeply into its market share.
Earlier this month, the company announced plans to cut 650 jobs and seek waivers from its lenders while it sought new financing and tried to better compete with lower-price apparel makers.