Founded as the Southern Manufacturing Company, it was built in 1902 by some of the city’s most prominent businessmen and served as a catalyst for early economic development in the area. The manufacturing facility has been home to several different forms of manufacturing throughout the years but the most prominent was Wilkins Industries.

Wilkins Industries bought the property in 1953 and was the first business in Athens to integrate African-American women into the industrial workforce. Wilkins primarily produced overalls, slacks and blue jeans. At one time, Wilkins Industries had offices in New York, London and Athens and was considered one the nation’s largest manufacturers of women’s jeans wear.

"Southern Mill" is an adaptive reuse of the 160,000 square foot Southern Manufacturing complex which consists of four historic buildings that create a campus like setting in Athens, Georgia.