Employee-owned custom apparel manufacturer establishes its first Kentucky operation and creates 55 jobs
FRANKFORT, Ky. — August 12, 2026 — Artisans Inc. has opened an $8.4 million manufacturing facility in Lexington, marking the custom apparel manufacturer’s first location in Kentucky.
Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear joined company executives and local officials to celebrate the facility’s grand opening. The investment is creating 55 jobs in the Lexington region and expanding Kentucky’s manufacturing economy.
Project Highlights
- $8.4 million capital investment
- 55 new jobs for Kentucky residents
- First Artisans Inc. facility in Kentucky
- New manufacturing operation located on Mercer Road in Lexington
- Production of decorated apparel for customers nationwide
- Company is 100% employee-owned
- Operations are fully underway
“Today’s grand opening is another big win for our commonwealth’s robust manufacturing sector,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This project is bringing great new job opportunities for Kentuckians in the Lexington region.”
Beshear thanked Artisans Inc. for investing in Kentucky and welcomed the company to its “New Kentucky Home.”
Artisans Inc. Begins Production in Lexington
Artisans Inc. announced plans in early 2025 to close its operation in rural Wisconsin and consolidate production at a new Lexington location.
Nearly two years later, the company is fully operational at its Mercer Road facility. Artisans manufactures decorated apparel for:
- Resorts
- Colleges and universities
- Primary and secondary schools
- Retail stores
- Customers throughout the United States
First Lady Beshear said family-owned and family-grown businesses remain an important part of Kentucky’s economy.
“I’m excited to join Artisans Inc. and the Lexington community in celebrating the grand opening of this new facility, which will provide great new job opportunities for Kentucky families,” she said. “I am proud to welcome them, and I look forward to celebrating their success for years to come.”
Employee-Owned Manufacturer Invests in Its Workforce
Artisans Inc. operates as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan company, making its employees owners of the business.
Company President and CEO Kyle Foster said the Lexington investment will support Artisans’ workforce and long-term growth.
“What began as a family business in rural Wisconsin more than 60 years ago, Artisans Inc. has always believed that our people are our greatest strength,” Foster said. “As a 100% employee-owned company, this investment in Lexington is an investment in our employee-owners and in the future of our business.”
Foster thanked Kentucky’s state and local leaders for welcoming the company to the Bluegrass State.
“We look forward to becoming an active member of the Lexington community while creating quality jobs for years to come,” he said.
From a Family Farm to a National Apparel Business
Orlo and Bernice Dukerschein founded Artisans Inc. on their family dairy farm in Glen Flora, Wisconsin, in 1963.
The business began with the couple and their six children producing:
- Screen-printed T-shirts and sweatshirts
- Ribbons and buttons
- Decals and emblems
- Banners and other decorated products
Artisans outgrew its original family property and constructed a production plant in Glen Flora in 1991. By 2000, continued growth led to the development of a modern manufacturing facility.
In 2017, owners Bev and Gordie Dukerschein sold the business to its employees through an ESOP structure, transforming Artisans into a fully employee-owned company.
New Facility Strengthens Lexington’s Manufacturing Sector
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said the investment demonstrates confidence in the city’s workforce and business environment.
“We are excited to welcome Artisans Inc. to Lexington and to celebrate the opportunities this investment will create for our community,” Gorton said. “The company’s presence in Lexington will create high-quality jobs for our talented workforce while further strengthening and diversifying our local economy.”
Manufacturing is one of Commerce Lexington’s strategic target industries. Commerce Lexington 2026 Board Chair Nick Nicholson said the new facility will reinforce the sector’s importance to Fayette County and the broader region.
“We are excited to welcome Artisans Inc. to its new home in the greater Lexington region,” Nicholson said. “This new facility in Fayette County further strengthens a key sector of our economy.”
Commerce Lexington plans to work with the company to connect it with resources supporting its continued growth and success.
Kentucky Manufacturing Continues to Grow
Artisans Inc.’s investment contributes to what state officials describe as Kentucky’s strongest six-year period for economic growth.
The project adds new manufacturing employment in Fayette County while welcoming a long-established, employee-owned business to the commonwealth.
