In November, 2017, the doors closed on North Carolina’s White Oak plant — one of the first, and (almost) the last, big textile mill in the  U.S. to make true, vintage-style denim. Our correspondent tracks down the secret to classic jeans, and their unexpected future.

"The Secret to Vintage Jeans" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the   architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

Written by BRIAN HOWE, with updated reporting by TODD OPPENHEIMER

Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA

Narrated by CHRIS EGUSA

Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

Music by MIKE SNOWDEN