While the factory in Des Plaines has seen a few different company names in its lifetime -- Hart Schaffner Marx, Hartmarx, and most recently, HMX Group -- the 600 workers inside have formed an enduring backbone.  And when the company's creditors sought to liquidate in the spring of 2009 (and ship those jobs overseas), the employees and their union representatives fought successfully to keep that from happening.  (Read our full coverage of the deal here).  A year later, the factory is humming with a new owner at the helm.  As we've previously noted, Workers United held a celebration there last week to commemorate their victory.

"The fight to save Hartmarx was not only a fight that matters to the 600 people here and your families," said Workers United President Bruce Raynor, "but matters to the state of Illinois, matters to the United States of America, and matters to working people.  We need to convince more companies ... that they can prosper and profit by making stuff right here in the U.S."

"We're going to come back in 20 years," said State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, "and be very proud of what we stood up for.  We stood up for this great American company."

Below is a short video shot at last week's celebration and produced for SEIU Illinois by Heather Stone: