Talbott issues layoff notices to 38 employees in Monterey tie factory.

It's a rarity in Monterey County—a clothing factory, inconspicuously manufacturing neckties and shirts off Highway 68 in Monterey.

As of 2014, 110 employees worked at stitching shirts, ties and neck squares in the Robert Talbott hometown spot, with corporate offices located above the factory. 

The luxury clothing brand got its start in Carmel Valley in 1950, and has since also done clothing fabrication abroad—in Europe, Canada and China—but the Monterey plant slowly dwindled in size. 

Today, there are 55 employees, a 50-percent decrease from just three years ago. And on Tuesday, Nov. 7, Talbott issued layoff notices to 38 workers. 

As required by law, Talbott notified the California Employment Development Department of the pending layoffs; a copy of that letter was obtained by the Weekly via a Public Records Act request. Talbott officials did not respond to a call requesting comment. 

The layoff notice shows the 38 affected employees mostly work in tie and shirt production. One works in finance, and two work in marketing. 

The Robert Talbott website still mentions Monterey manufacturing quality: "Our garments represent our understanding of style and workmanship, whether made in our Italian officinas or in our very own Monterey, California workshop."

Former Talbott CFO Rob Bernosky sued the company last year, claiming he was unjustly fired. He alleged CEO Bob Corliss was spending company money for personal use, and that after Bernosky started asking questions about it, he was terminated.  

Robb Talbott, who the clothing maker is named for, says he no longer has any ownership stake in the company, and sold it a year ago to the Corliss family. His current, newer venture is operating a nonprofit motorcycle museum in Carmel Valley. 

Talbott had also branched out into wine, and that business venture also changed hands; Talbott sold his wine business, Talbott Vineyards, to Gallo for an undisclosed amount in 2015. 

"I'm happy to move on and run a nonprofit," Talbott says. "I've moved on."

Talbott adds that he believes there's currently no manufacturing of the clothing line in China, or at least that practice had ended before he sold the company a year ago. "The product was very poorly made and we dropped it," he says.  

Chris Donnelly, executive director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board, says he expects Talbott to continue operating at its Monterey plant for now, just in smaller volume. There will be fewer than 20 employees left after the layoffs.