THORNGATE SEEKS WORKERS FROM JUST-CLOSED COMPANIES

Thorngate Ltd., one of the top-five manufacturing employers in Southeast Missouri, needs more workers.

Thorngate representatives will be in Puxico Thursday to discuss employment opportunities with former employees of Akbani Industries Inc., a division of American Athletic Apparel, an apparel-manufacturing company that closed last week.

"We can use up to 100 workers," said Frank Adams, vice president and general manager of Thorngate's Cape Girardeau operations. "We have vacancies here and at Chaffee."

Thorngate representatives are also working with Sikeston officials to establish a "job fair" meeting there. Sportswear Inc., also a division of American Athletic Apparel, closed at Sikeston last week.

The two subsidiaries employed 170 people -- 70 at Sikeston and about 100 at Puxico.

Thorngate has more than 900 employees: 600 at Cape Girardeau and 300 at Chaffee.

"We really want to talk with these people," said Adams. "They already have the background. We're looking for employees we can train for machine operators, cutters, and other jobs."

The meeting at Puxico will be held at 7 p.m. at the VFW hall. A Sikeston meeting will be announced.

With three shifts operating at the Cape Girardeau plant, Adams said he probably can use more than 100 more employees. And, he said, "We could put 25 to 30 workers on line at Chaffee tomorrow."

"When workers are fully trained they can earn $8 to $8.50 an hour," said Adams. "And we have a big fringe-benefit package."

Workers are eligible for three weeks vacation after the first year.

"They also receive 11 paid holidays," said Adams. "And we have good insurance benefits."

Thorngate, said Adams, is the largest manufacturer of men's clothing in the world.

"One of the lines we produce here is the Tommy Hilfiger line," said Adams.

Hilfiger, a leading American menswear designer, signed an agreement with Thorngate's parent company, Hartmarx, in 1994.

"This was a big boost for our Cape Girardeau plant," said Adams. "Suits and sports jackets in the Hilfiger line will be made at the plant in Cape Girardeau, resulting in additional workers."

Forty workers were added immediately following the Hilfiger announcement.

The local plant makes about 7,000 coats a week with each coat involving 125 operations after cutting.

Thorngate, 1507 Independence, became a 135,000-square-foot manufacturing facility following a 1987 expansion that included a 60,000-square-foot, computerized addition to the plant.

Hartmarx operates 40 plants in the United States. Some of the Hilfiger clothes will be produced in other plants.