Bella+Canvas (asi/39590) is making a major investment in Alabama. The Commerce, CA-based supplier known for fashion-forward apparel as well as an emphasis on sustainability, philanthropy and wellness, plans to invest $11.9 million into opening an advanced fabric-cutting facility in Wetumpka, a city within the Montgomery metropolitan region.

The supplier will establish the operation in a portion of an 890,000-square-foot building that has been vacant since 2013, when Russell Brands exited the city, according to the Alabama governor’s office. The new facility is expected to bring more than 550 jobs to the region.

Chris Blakeslee, president of Bella+Canvas

“We are thrilled to be part of the community and look forward to creating jobs and opportunities for many in Alabama,” said Chris Blakeslee, president of Bella+Canvas and a member of the Counselor Power 50 list of the most influential people in the promotional products industry. “After a comprehensive search, we ultimately concluded that our new location in Wetumpka, AL, was not only optimal to enhance our manufacturing footprint and technologically advanced operations levels, but also ideal in terms of support from the local government and access to great new team members.”

Bella+Canvas employs more than 1,000 people at its Los Angeles-area facility, including a domestic sewing operation that yields 10 million units a year. The supplier uses proprietary software and specialized cutting tables as part of its high-tech process, and the Wetumpka facility is expected to be modeled after its California operation. Among the jobs to be created at the new Alabama facility are spreaders, general cutting laborers, forklift operators, shipping and receiving clerks and administrative staff. The average annual wages for the new positions will be $46,000, according to a release from the governor’s office.

Gov. Kay Ivey said Bella+Canvas’ decision to come to the state was welcome news. “Not only will the company’s growth project spark the creation of a significant number of jobs, but it also underscores how Alabama is ready and eager to play a role in America’s manufacturing renaissance,” she said.

An affiliate of Phoenix Investors, a national private real estate firm based in Wisconsin, acquired the former Russell Brands building in 2020. Bella+Canvas will be leasing a portion of the Wetumpka building from the firm. A timeline for when the new cutting facility will open has not yet been released.