The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY

Built after the Great Fire of Glens Falls, and expanded through the early 1900s, this industrial giant once turned out men’s dress shirts, women’s garments, and even military uniforms.

For more than a century, the factory supplied regional and national retailers, producing clothing under the McMullen-Leavens and Dorothy Cox Designs labels, among others. Stores like Bonwit Teller, J. J. Newberry, F. W. Woolworth, McCrory’s and H.L. Green sold their goods.

The factory ultimately closed in 1996 due to the decline in domestic clothing production. Today, it holds artists, makers, studios, and small businesses. However, the factory’s history is still visible. Hallways display original sewing machines, garments, labels, photos and tools from its manufacturing days.

Many artists incorporate these artifacts into their spaces, resutling in a blend of preserved industrial heritage and modern creativity.

We visited in February, and despite the cold outside, the Shirt Factory was full of life. Flea‑market vendors and artists filled the halls, alongside the numerous shops and studios that call the building home. It’s a great way to spend a weekend, with tons of things to see, and people to visit with.