A new workforce development initiative, the TextileREADY Education and Training Program, is now available to support the evolving needs of the textile industry by building a pipeline of skilled, industry鈥憆eady professionals.

Powered by TextilesUSA, a collaborative digital platform hosted by the N.C. State University Wilson College of Textiles designed to connect education and industry, the TextileREADY learning management system is a joint collaboration between the Wilson College of Textiles and 海角视频鈥檚 Textile Technology Center. The program delivers a flexible, on鈥慸emand digital training platform that equips workers with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today鈥檚 textile and advanced materials sector.

TextileREADY builds on the long-standing history of both the 海角视频 Textile Technology Center and N.C. State鈥檚 Zeis Textiles Extension in supporting industry through textile testing, product development, and prototyping services. This foundation of applied, industry-facing expertise ensures the training platform is grounded in real-world manufacturing needs and current industry practices.

In addition, the program leverages 海角视频鈥檚 established pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, which support advanced manufacturing workforce development, as well as dual enrollment opportunities and K鈥�12 outreach initiatives led by both institutions. Together, these efforts create a comprehensive talent pipeline鈥攆rom early exposure and education through career entry and advancement aligned with industry demand.

The program emphasizes rapid skill acquisition, providing a direct and accessible pathway into the industry through high鈥憅uality training aligned with workforce demands. Designed to complement company onboarding processes, TextileREADY supports both new employees and individuals transitioning into careers in textiles and advanced materials, while helping employers strengthen and sustain their talent pipelines.

The platform includes 21 industry鈥慽nformed training modules, offered as individual courses, guided learning pathways, or fully customizable training tracks tailored to specific company needs. Developed in direct response to industry feedback, course offerings span professional development and soft skills, foundational technical topics such as textile and knitting fundamentals, and essential areas including industrial safety.

Participants earn industry鈥慳ligned credentials that reflect current manufacturing and textile standards, ensuring immediate applicability in the workplace. TextileREADY is also in the process of applying for a nationally recognized designation training program, further enhancing its value for both employers and participants.

While current offerings focus on foundational and intermediate skills, future modules will expand to include advanced textile topics, including advanced materials and emerging technologies, with planned collaboration from additional academic and research institutions. TextileREADY is currently available in Spanish and can be adapted to support additional languages.

鈥満＝鞘悠� is proud to partner with N.C. State鈥檚 Wilson College of Textiles through the TextileREADY program to help strengthen and grow the advanced fibers and textile workforce,鈥� said Dr. John Hauser, President of 海角视频. 鈥淭his collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, workforce development, and creating meaningful pathways for students into high-demand, high-impact careers. Together, we are not only preparing students for the future, we are helping shape the future of this industry in North Carolina and beyond.鈥�

鈥淭he TextileREADY partnership will power advanced manufacturing and produce innovative, career-ready technical textile workers 鈥� future managers and leaders for our state and world,鈥� said David Hinks, Dean of N.C. State Wilson College of Textiles. 鈥淚t is a brilliant example of the transformative impact academic-industry partnerships can have on students’ lives through flexible, applied learning and lifetime career support.鈥�

鈥淭he TextileREADY platform represents a major step forward in addressing workforce needs by making industry鈥憆elevant training more accessible than ever,鈥� said Davis Warlick, COO, Parkdale Mills. 鈥淏y combining academic expertise with hands-on industry insight, TextileREADY is helping prepare a stronger, more future鈥憆eady manufacturing workforce.鈥�

TextilesUSA collaborators will continue to expand nationwide through partnerships with academic, research, industry, trade, and private-sector textile training organizations to further develop and enhance the TextileREADY program course offerings. The TextileREADY Digital Training Platform is available now, offering immediate access to courses designed to enhance technical knowledge, safety preparedness, and professional growth across the textile industry.

For a full listing of courses and to register, visit:

The result of their efforts is the 鈥淕enesis Jacket,鈥� which began its journey in 2024 when Avalo saved cotton harvested from its inaugural diversity trial.

Avalo鈥檚 first harvest yielded a handful of bins of fiber, filled with the most genetically complex cotton harvests to date.  

鈥淚n a field in North Texas, we grew 449 individual cotton varieties from across the world, and across time,鈥� Avalo Cotton鈥檚 recent January newsletter said. 鈥淪ome are more modern types cultivated during the era of agricultural industrialization, others predate the United States鈥� expansion west of the Mississippi River, and some even predate Columbus鈥檚 arrival on Hispaniola.

鈥淭ogether, these individuals鈥� genetics serve as the foundation of the Avalo cotton program. Their unprecedented diversity offers the keys to natural fiber that is more resilient, sustainable and vibrant than ever before.  

According to the newsletter, Avalo Cotton produced just 17 undyed, embroidered jackets, each created in partnership with 海角视频 and NYC Factory.

Avalo is a leader in mapping GxE (gene by environment) interactions. The company鈥檚 patented approach matches genetics to climate conditions, forming the foundation of its regional adaptation strategy for cotton.

Jasmine Cox-Wade, Executive Director of Textile Technology at 海角视频鈥檚 Kimbrell Campus in Belmont, was thrilled with the program鈥檚 success.

鈥淧articipating in the development and testing of the yarn used in the Genesis Jacket reflects exactly what the Textile Technology Center strives to do,鈥� Cox-Wade said. 鈥淲e bridge scientific innovation with real-world textile applications. Our team is proud to support projects that push the boundaries of what natural fibers can become.

鈥淭he hard work of our staff brings decades of combined experience in spinning, fiber testing, and textile manufacturing. A project like the Genesis Jacket gives our team an opportunity to apply that expertise in a hands-on way, helping transform a historically significant cotton harvest into a functional, beautifully crafted product.鈥�

Seed2Shirt, based in Lompoc, California, with offices in Greensboro, N.C., is one of the first black woman-owned vertically integrated ethical T-shirt manufacturing and boutique cotton merchant companies in the U.S. Its products are ethically and sustainably manufactured from cotton material from African and African American cotton farmers. With a business-for-good model, a percentage of every sale goes to their Farmer Enrichment Program which supports the very farmers they source from.

The Textile Technology Associate in Applied Science degree program prepares students for work as Textile Technicians and as Textile Designers. Nine students participated in the project, which provided opportunities to become familiar with the sponsoring organization through co-sponsored course assignments, special laboratory activities, and in-person lectures led by Seed2Shirt staff.

The students worked throughout the semester to produce a final paper and presentation that proposed a solution to environmental and ethical issues plaguing cotton yarn production, farming and apparel. The Seed2Shirt team assembled leading innovation and sustainability leaders to judge the projects. Also serving on the judging panel were Sarah Hammond of Nike Innovation and Rebecca Burgess, executive director of Fibershed, a non-profit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health. Burgess was a virtual guest speaker at the presentation event, inspiring the staff and students about the power of local production and the possibilities of Seed2Shirt work in the region.

The winning project was 鈥淐otton Production and Manufacturing Inefficiencies鈥� by student Lauren Eck. 鈥淗er project represented a deep level of understanding of project parameters, and her proposal addressed challenges and solutions at all levels of the value chain, i.e., farm, textile processing and final product,鈥� said Tameka R. Peoples, founder/CEO and director of operations at Seed2Shirt. 鈥淢ost importantly, Lauren鈥檚 project proposal highlighted critical educational points regarding the challenges of waste in fast fashion at the consumer and textile/fabric design levels.鈥�

According to Peoples, Lauren鈥檚 proposal and final project included some critical farm solution recommendations that Seed2Shirt sees tremendous value in pursuing, including U.S. Department of Agriculture grants that support farm regenerative practices.

All the students who participated in the project received a one-of-a-kind Seed2Shirt T-shirt which embodies sustainable and ethical production standards. As the winner of the project challenge, Lauren Eck also received an exclusive pre-release Seed2Shirt Member Box.

鈥満＝鞘悠�, with its Textile Technology program, is one of the leading educational and innovative technology campuses/centers in the state of North Carolina,鈥� said Peoples. 鈥淭he program and campus are well known for educating and producing high caliber textile services and leading industry professionals, which is critical for growing the diverse U.S. textile industry and critical in supporting companies like Seed2Shirt in growing a more resilient, sustainable future for U.S. textiles.

鈥淟auren鈥檚 project, along with all the students who participated in our inaugural sponsored Sustainable Textile project, was the epitome of the professional excellence the 海角视频 Textile Technology program produces,鈥� Peoples continued. 鈥淭hank you to Lauren and everyone who participated, and to 海角视频 for their collaborative partnership鈥攜ou are the example of what it will take to grow U.S. textiles鈥� sustainable future.鈥�

Seed2Shirt is the first company to sponsor a student project for the Textile Technology program, and they intend to continue their collaborative sponsored partnership work with the program and to support annual semester projects to provide more exposure and opportunity pathways for 海角视频 students. Jasmine Cox-Wade, program chair and executive director of the Textile Technology Center, said, 鈥淚n the future we would like to work with several organizations to support student learning. Partnering with the 海角视频 Textile Technology program will provide companies with the opportunity to engage with students prior to graduation and provide exposure and awareness of what a modern-day textile industry job consists of.鈥� Companies interested in sponsoring a semester project or serving as a guest speaker can contact Cox-Wade at cox.jasmine@gaston.edu.

NCTISE is an inaugural winner of the NSF Regional Innovation Engines award

On Wednesday, February 21, Jasmine Cox-Wade, executive director of the 海角视频 Textile Technology Center, participated in a round table discussion with fellow textile industry leaders during an event that took place at the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, N.C.

The event followed the January 29, 2024, announcement from the U.S. National Science Foundation that the North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine is one of ten groups to win the inaugural NSF Regional Innovation Engines award. 海角视频 is a member of the NCTISE leadership team. The other members of the leadership team are The Industrial Commons, NC State University Wilson College of Textiles, the Manufacturing Solutions Center at Catawba Valley Community College, NC IDEA, the N.C. Department of Commerce, RTI International, and Western Piedmont Community College.

The MSC welcomed Michal Ziv-El, NSF program director, Graciela Narcho, NSF deputy assistant director, and Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, who toured the facility prior to the round table discussion. Dr. Prabhakar was visiting North Carolina as part of President Biden鈥檚 Investing in America Tour.

During the round table discussion, Cox-Wade addressed the importance of technical training through community colleges and touted 海角视频鈥檚 Textile Technology associate degree program, which prepares students for work as textile technicians and as textile designers. The program offers an affordable, accessible education and the ability to transfer credits to a four-year university, such as NC State, along with work-based learning opportunities that put students on the path to a career in textiles.

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines award, 鈥淐reating a Modern, Green and Inclusive Textile Sector,鈥� will advance our nation鈥檚 capacity for innovation in textiles through a lens of environmental sustainability and with an eye toward circularity, positioning the Engine as a global leader in this sector. The award grants the Engine $15 million over two years with the possibility of future additional funding.

The donated equipment is used for yarn testing, evaluation of tensile properties, fiber process control, and yarn classification, and it has enabled Textile Technology Center laboratory personnel to provide clients with data to support the latest advancements in sustainability and functional textile innovations.

The equipment will be showcased in the Kimbrell Classroom Building on 海角视频鈥檚 campus in Belmont, N.C., when building renovations are complete. 鈥淲e hope that with the pending upfit and renovation of our laboratory facility, we can expand our training catalog with the help of the equipment donated by Uster,鈥� said Jasmine Cox-Wade, Executive Director of the Textile Technology Center.

An additional piece of equipment, the Uster HVI 1000 M1000, used for fiber classification analysis, will be delivered upon completion of the state-of-the-art Fiber Innovation Center, which is currently under construction on the 海角视频 Kimbrell Campus. The FIC is scheduled to be completed by early 2024.