May Hosiery Mills

Owned and developed by Nashville-based AJ Capital Partners, May Hosiery is the adaptive reuse of the oldest sock mill in the South, dating back to 1908.

After years of underutilization, the property is being transformed into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood hub. The project needed a visual identity that would honor its history and work well in contemporary contexts. 

The Library of Congress’ photo archive provided the perfect solution. We designed a faithful re-creation of the original painted brick sign from the turn of the century, with modern updates for flexible use and varied applications. We’re proud to help bring new life to this historic space while honoring the rich history of the building and the surrounding neighborhood.

We worked with the team at AJ to create an iconic look for the broader May Hosiery Mills building that was inspired by the structure’s visual history and yet still feels distinctly modern.

We extended our brand identity exploration to include assets for AJ’s community-driven retail concept, May Hosiery Mills Co-Op, a retail space featuring leading local designers, merchants, and products unique to Nashville.