Posted November 22, 2017

In the U.S., we’re about to partake of turkey, reflect on the year and count our blessings on the Thanksgiving holiday. A little relaxation and rumination certainly offers me a chance to give thanks for everything that being a part of our great industry offers.

This year, among the many things I’m thankful for are:

The Hamrick Family – as kind, humble and generous a people as you’ll ever meet, who have quietly kept Hamrick Mills of Gaffney, S.C., humming along for 117 years now. Taylorsville, N.C.-based Schneider Mills, another venerable company that, under the radar, reached its 100-year anniversary this year. Gehring-Tricot Corp. and Jason Mills LLC – two U.S. Northeast fabric makers that are doing some amazing work and are ubiquitous at trade shows.

Having known Rob Chapman of Inman Mills and Mark Kent of Kentwool – industry leaders and gentle giants who made a big difference for our industry but left us way too soon. Likewise, Marshall Cooper Jr., retired president and CEO of Harriet & Henderson Yarns, and Joe Gorga retired president & CEO of International Textile Group, who made their mark on their companies and this industry. And certainly Paul T. O’Day, longtime president and counsel of the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA), who was fiercely dedicated to the industry he loved for 33 years and whose intellect, wit and charm will be sorely missed.

Getting thank-you notes. Receiving positive critiques. Getting notification of new subscribers, all of who get too much email but see value in eTextileCommunications’ weekly newsletter. Hearing word of plant expansions, staff additions and new investments.

Witnessing industry representatives, even “competitors,” collaborate on figuring out better ways to bring textile and apparel manufacturing back to these shores. Industry events that allow ample time for networking, which offers a chance for friends to reconnect and strangers to meet – and, in many cases, for a common issue to be discussed and potentially taken on as a dual project. The local-for-local strategy and seeing how many companies throughout the supply chain are investing time and dollars to make this a reality. Reading this sentence in a recent presentation by OTEXA’s Mary Lynn Landgraf: “The U.S. has gone from losing about 220,000 manufacturing jobs per year at the beginning of the last decade to adding 30,000 reshoring/manufacturing jobs in 2016” (Source: Reshoring Intiative).

Oh, and for Mary Lynn Landgraf, a bundle of excitement and zeal, especially when talking U.S. textiles to American or foreign audiences. Jack Daniels, retiring executive director of AATCC, who I’ve had the privilege to call a friend for two decades. Sarah Friedman, who dedicated 18 years to the development, growth and membership value of SEAMS, impacting countless industry professionals and entrepreneurs. Frank Henderson, CEO of Henderson Sewing Machine Co., whose passion for disrupting this industry and leading us into Industry 4.0 is infectious. Allen Gant Jr., recently retired CEO of Glen Raven, whose inspiration and leadership will be greatly missed.

Game-changing innovations such as APJeT, Inc.’s atmospheric plasma technology that offers a green alternative to wet textile finishing, one that requires less energy, less chemistry, less heat and no pollution or waste water. Similarly, the foam-dyeing breakthrough developed by North Carolina-based firms Indigo Mill Designs and Gaston Systems Inc. that offers zero rinse water discharge and the reduction of chemicals. And companies such as Vanguard Pailung/Wildfire and Shima Seiki, who have many of the answers for a shortened supply chain that many are seeking. Our nonwovens brethren, a sector that is enjoying continuing success, as evidenced by grand openings of Turkey-based Mogul Nonwovens Corp. in South Carolina and The Nonwovens Institute’s new facility for spunmelt and hydroentanglement on N.C. State’s Centennial Campus.

For eTC’s advertisers, too many to list (and that’s a good thing!). To the many friends I’ve seen, reconnected with and met this year. Your kind words about this product, which make the long hours and travel worth every second. To each and every one of you for reading and advocating for eTC.

I’m sure I left many off, but I’ll close with this: I recently visited Graceland during SPESA’s Executive Conference, and with Thanksgiving just a day away, I can’t help but leave you with one of Elvis’ favorite lines:

“Thank you, thank you, thankyouvurmuch.”