Posted March 12, 2020

Updated March 17, 2020

Unprecedented. Alarming. Sobering.

And getting real.

The coronavirus crisis is this and so much more – the water cooler conversation of all water cooler conversations. (Not that anyone should be congregating around a spout or anything else these days.) Isn’t that the main talking point you’re hearing among peers and family members lately? The pandemic is, well, trumping the U.S. presidential election, the weather and even tournament basketball games. And the coronavirus is the primary source of most jokes and memes making the rounds.

March Madness has taken on a new and scarier meaning.

This week, I’ve been covering the AATCC International Conference in Greenville, S.C., and virtually EVERY chitchat seems to either revolve around or metamorphose into the topic of coronavirus, a.k.a. COVID-19. From “This is blown out of proportion” to “You won’t get me on an airplane” to “I’m not scared,” I’ve heard about every opinion on the matter. And in lieu of handshakes and hugs, people are cautiously opting for elbow bumps, waves, salutes, foot taps, bowing and even “jazz hands.” Perhaps these developing trends of salutation – and the new practice of “social distancing” – will be with us for a while, even after this global health scare abates.

And, because you can never be so cautious even in the absence of skin-to-skin contact, antimicrobial gel is going faster than the free Starbucks outside the meeting rooms here. And hand washing? It’s becoming quite a “thing,” it seems. Yesterday, a gentleman beside me in the restroom approached the sink and said jokingly, “what’s this and how do you use it?”

Ba-dum-bum.

We’re seeing an abundance of caution being exercised, perhaps drastic to some. Schools are being closed. Sporting events are scheduled with no fans being allowed and travel plans are quickly changing Indeed, fear is driving the coronavirus narrative, which may or may not be the right response. Only time will tell.

But here we are.

Daily, all of us are receiving word of events being postponed or cancelled, to the chagrin – or relief – of many. I know my very packed schedule for the next few weeks is suddenly becoming sparse. Here are the textile industry events organizers have announced that they have either been ...

Postponed or cancelled:

• The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Annual Meeting, scheduled for March 31-April 2 in Washington, D.C. – postponed until further notice.

• Southern Textile Association (STA) spring meetings – its Northern and Southern Division meetings in Raleigh, N.C., and Clemson, S.C., have both been cancelled;

• SPESA's Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference (April 3 in Detroit), cancelled;

• The Americas Apparel Producers' Network's Carolina Mill Tour (March 30-April 3) and its Charlotte Regional (April 3) – moved to the week of September 30.

• The Industrial Fabrics Association International's Smart Fabrics Summit (April 16-17 in Washington, D.C.) – now a VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ONLY;

• The Federal & Defense Textile Summit (FedTex) (April 21-22 in Charlotte, N.C.), cancelled;

• The Synthetic Yarn and Fabric Association (SYFA) Spring Conference – set for April 23-24 in Charlotte, N.C. – cancelled;

• The Americas Apparel Producers' Network's pro:Americas Annual Conference (May 3-5 in Miami); and

• Techtextil North America / Texprocess Americas tradeshows (May 12-14 in Atlanta), rescheduled for December 15-17 in Atlanta.

There’s no word yet on the future of other upcoming scheduled industry events, including:

• The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance's Annual Meeting (April 23-24 in Charleston, S.C.); and

• The Industrial Fabric Association International's Outlook Conference (April 26-28 in Asheville, N.C.).

This is quickly becoming the Big Shuffle, with planners scrambling to make the call, then look for open dates starting sometime in the summer. It’s a mess, for sure. I expect our summer and fall calendars (especially your truly’s) to be packed tighter than undersized Spanx.

I certainly can’t remember a similar disaster, not even the attacks on 9/11. With that crisis, at least it was over and done with, though it would take several weeks, months and years of heartache, despair and determination to move forward. With this pandemic, we don’t know how long it will last, and the impact may be beyond catastrophic to families, businesses and the global economy.

My advice? Be smart, be prudent, be cautious – and keep your hands washed and away from your face.

But whatever you do, please try to keep calm and “textile” on.