Morning Sun to cease operations

By Meghan Erkkinen

Fife Free Press
merkkinen@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: November 06, 2008

Morning Sun, located in Fife, announced Oct. 20 that it will be closing its doors next month, after 22 years of business.

The company, which makes embroidered and screen print clothing, cited a significant loss of revenue over recent months due to customer bankruptcies and failure to pay as the reason for closure. The closure will mean the termination of 162 jobs.

“It’s a tough retail environment out there exacerbated by the current events in the economy,” said Morning Sun CEO Bob Klein. Customers responding to the news “have been very supportive and have been working with us to fulfill their holiday orders.”

Morning Sun was founded in 1986 by Ferdie Kollar and Marv Pasquan, both of whom had worked in the apparel business as retailers and sales representatives. The company targeted the women’s market, providing decorated fleece garments, initially focusing on screenprint sweatshirts. They were first to attach collars to sweatshirts as a way to dress them up.

Today, Morning Sun produces both screenprinted and embroidered tops. The 150,000-square-foot facility in Fife manufactures products that are distributed in all 50 states. Customers have included some of the country’s leading department stores, catalogues and specialty retailers.

“We’ve made a lot of friends over the years because we’ve been a good customer and a good resource, and people are very sad, as all of us are,” said Klein, who has worked with Morning Sun since 1993. “We’ve been kind of like family here and I think there’s just a sense of profound sadness. People are still working beautifully to fulfill their obligations.”

The store will cease operations Dec. 19, but the outlet store will remain open through the end of the year.

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