Heart of Dixie Manufacturing

Red Land Cotton is a shining example of the American textile revival, based in Moulton, Alabama.

The company was co-founded in 2016 by Mark Yeager, a third-generation cotton farmer, and his daughter, Anna Brakefield, a graphic designer and marketer.

The brand was born out of a desire to create a finished product that honored the high-quality cotton grown on the family's 4,000-acre farm at the foot of the Bankhead National Forest.

The Yeagers realized that modern sheets lacked the crispness and durability of vintage linens, so they embarked on a mission to recreate the bedding of the past.

To do this, they reverse-engineered a bed sheet from the 1920s, analyzing the yarn size and weave construction to develop their signature fabric.

The manufacturing process is a fully domestic, vertically integrated effort.

The cotton is exclusively rain-fed and grown on the Yeager farm in the distinct red soil of North Alabama, which produces a strong, long-staple fiber.

Once harvested, the cotton is ginned locally, then sent to the Carolinas for spinning and finishing, before being woven into fabric.

The final cut-and-sew operations take place in the Southern US, ensuring the entire supply chain remains American.

The resulting fabric is not chemically treated to be 'wrinkle-free' or artificially softened; instead, it is a substantial, breathable percale that softens naturally with every wash, designed to last for decades.

Bourbon Pens is a specialty woodworking studio located in Birmingham, Alabama, owned and operated by craftsman Joel Lockridge.

The business specializes in creating one-of-a-kind writing instruments from wood with a story, most notably reclaimed white oak staves from authentic bourbon barrels.

The concept originated almost by accident; while recovering from a table saw injury, Lockridge attended a woodturning demonstration and became hooked.

A friend later sent him some bourbon barrel staves to experiment with, and when Lockridge turned them on the lathe, the heat released the unmistakable aroma of whiskey, sparking the idea for a business that combines woodworking with bourbon culture.

Every pen is handcrafted by Lockridge in his Birmingham shop.

The manufacturing process involves sourcing barrels from specific distilleries—including iconic names like Maker's Mark, Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, and Woodford Reserve.

The wood is cut into small 'blanks,' drilled, and fitted with brass tubes before being turned on a lathe to the final shape.

Lockridge preserves the character of the wood, often including the charred black interior of the barrel staves in the design, which provides a striking visual contrast to the oak grain.

The pens are then sanded to a smooth finish and assembled with high-quality hardware, such as bolt-action mechanisms that mimic the operation of a rifle, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.

Humminbird is a legendary name in the angling world and a powerhouse of American manufacturing, headquartered in Eufaula, Alabama.

The company was founded in 1971 by Tom Mann, a professional fisherman, and a group of investors under the name 'Allied Sports Company.' The brand's origin story is one of garage innovation; they began by modifying Heath Kit depth sounders to be waterproof and more effective for bass fishing.

Eufaula, known as the 'Big Bass Capital of the World,' provided the perfect testing ground for their technology.

Today, Humminbird is a subsidiary of Johnson Outdoors but maintains its massive engineering and manufacturing footprint in Eufaula, where it employs hundreds of local workers.

The manufacturing facility is a hub of high-tech production, where skilled technicians assemble printed circuit boards (PCBs), bond high-definition displays, and integrate complex sonar transducers.

The company is renowned for pioneering technologies such as Side Imaging, Down Imaging, and the 360 Imaging sonar, which have revolutionized how fishermen locate structure and fish.

A key aspect of their modern product line is the 'One-Boat Network,' which seamlessly integrates Humminbird electronics with Minn Kota trolling motors and shallow water anchors, allowing for automated boat control.

Humminbird's commitment to Eufaula goes beyond jobs; the facility recently underwent a major expansion and installed a solar array to power a portion of its operations, reducing its carbon footprint.

Alabama Sunshine is a gourmet condiment company based in Fayette, Alabama, that specializes in farm-to-table hot sauces.

The company was founded in 1995 by Fred Smith, a local jalapeno enthusiast who started growing peppers in the mid-1970s as a hobby.

Smith spent decades refining his recipes and giving away sauce to friends and family before officially launching the business to clear the surplus gallons of sauce out of his wife's storage room.

Today, the company is owned by David and Julie Madison, who have stayed true to the brand's roots by continuing to grow the peppers locally in Fayette County.

The manufacturing process is a true 'seed to sauce' operation.

The company cultivates thousands of pepper plants, including cayenne, jalapeno, habanero, and ghost peppers.

The peppers are harvested by hand at peak ripeness and processed immediately to capture their fresh flavor.

A key element of their production, particularly for their bolder sauces, involves fermenting the pepper mash.

As seen in their behind-the-scenes content, this fermentation process can take months, allowing the peppers to develop complex, tangy flavor profiles that simple vinegar-based sauces lack.

The mash is then blended, cooked, and bottled in their commercial kitchen in Fayette.

zkano (pronounced 'zah-kay-no') is a sock brand with a mission to revive the textile heritage of Fort Payne, Alabama, a town once known as the 'Sock Capital of the World.' At its peak, Fort Payne produced one in every eight pairs of socks globally, but trade agreements in the early 2000s decimated the local industry.

zkano was founded in 2009 by Gina Locklear, who grew up in the business—her parents owned Emi-G Knitting, a contract sock mill.

Witnessing the decline of local manufacturing, Locklear decided to pivot the family business toward a direct-to-consumer brand focused on sustainability and design.

The manufacturing process takes place entirely at the family's mill in Fort Payne, where they produce socks in small batches to minimize waste.

zkano distinguishes itself by using certified organic cotton grown in the Southern United States.

This cotton is processed and dyed with low-impact dyes in the Carolinas before returning to Alabama for knitting.

The socks are finished with features like seamless toes and reinforced heels for durability.

The brand is also deeply committed to zero-waste principles; any manufacturing scraps or irregular socks are donated or recycled into fiber for automotive carpet padding.

1818 Farms is a lifestyle brand rooted in the soil of Mooresville, Alabama, one of the state's oldest and smallest towns (population approx.

58).

The farm was founded in 2012 by Natasha McCrary, inspired by her son's desire to own a Babydoll Southdown sheep—an heirloom breed known for its teddy-bear-like appearance.

What began as a family project to teach the children about animal husbandry and sustainability quickly blossomed into a thriving business.

The brand is named after the year Mooresville was incorporated, celebrating the town's history which predates Alabama's statehood.

The company's core product line focuses on bath and beauty items that are handmade using simple, high-quality ingredients.

Their best-selling 'Shea Creme' is famous for its light, fluffy texture, achieved through a meticulous whipping process that blends shea butter with coconut oil and essential oils.

The farm also cultivates thousands of flowers each season, employing sustainable farming practices.

These blooms are not only sold fresh but are also dried and incorporated into products like their 'Botanical Wax Sachets' and 'Bath Teas.' 1818 Farms manages the entire lifecycle of these botanical components, from seed to harvest to packaging.