Indera

h quality and rapid responsiveness to customer needs. The brand emphasizes integrity, commitment, innovation, and giving back to the community, maintaining a family-owned legacy through four generations until its recent acquisition by Intradeco Holdings. Indera's flagship ColdPruf brand, launched in 2007, highlights performance fabrics and two-layer thermal products. The company serves a wide range of customers from small retailers to major national chains, prioritizing customer respect and competitive pricing.

Philosophy

Indera Mills is built on core values of integrity, commitment, and innovation. The company believes in delivering more than customers expect at competitive prices while maintaining a strong sense of corporate responsibility and community giving. It emphasizes quality through vertical integration and adaptability to market changes without losing sight of its founding principles.

Sustainability

Approach: Indera Mills emphasizes quality and durability through vertical integration, which reduces waste and improves production efficiency. The company’s nearshoring manufacturing model, supported by CAFTA, enhances supply chain responsiveness and reduces environmental impact compared to overseas production. Indera also commits to corporate social responsibility and giving back to the community, reflecting a broader ethical business philosophy. Details: While not explicitly branded as a sustainable fashion company, Indera’s focus on long-lasting thermal apparel, control over production processes, and local/regional manufacturing contribute to more sustainable practices compared to fast fashion models.

Founders

Francis Henry “Colonel” Fries, Background: A visionary entrepreneur and influential figure in the American textile industry, Colonel Fries founded Indera Mills in 1914. He also established several other textile companies and served as the first president of Wachovia Bank and Trust Company (now Wells Fargo). His legacy includes significant contributions to industry and philanthropy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Background

Indera Mills began as a knitwear manufacturer and expanded over the decades to focus exclusively on thermal underwear and base layers by the early 2000s. The ColdPruf brand was introduced in 2007 to emphasize performance and layered fabrics. The company remained family-owned for over a century, managed by second and fourth generation family members, until its acquisition by Intradeco Holdings, a global vertical-manufacturing company, in the mid-2020s. Indera maintains production facilities in the U.S. and Mexico and serves over 5,000 retail customers nationwide.

History

1914: Indera Mills founded by Francis Henry “Colonel” Fries in Winston-Salem, NC.; 1920-1930: Produced sporty woolen swimwear.; 1940: Introduced FIGURFIT product line.; 1980: Launched SLEEPING BEAUTY line.; 2000: Focus shifted to thermal and base layer products.; 2007: ColdPruf brand launched, emphasizing two-layer and performance fabrics.; 2020s: Acquired by Intradeco Holdings, continuing legacy under new ownership.