Posted July 8, 2015
Something felt “different” during the recent 107th Annual Meeting of the Southern Textile Association (STA) and the Joint Fiber Buyers Meeting at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Something meaningful.
Something positive.
Something contagious.
It was a general sense of optimism.
A sense of purpose.
A sense of being.
Which has been a long time coming for the U.S. textile industry. After years of decline, decimation and defeat, the industry seems to have turned the corner. And it has seen a reasonable amount of positive propulsion upward that points to sustainable recovery. Ask any attendee of the three-day gathering and I think he or she will tell you the same.
In introducing the meeting’s business session, Bill Bowen framed the event around its theme: ‘Renaissance in the U.S. Textile Industry.”
“This is truly an exciting time to be in the textile industry,” said Bowen, vice president of purchasing for Inman Mills, Inman, S.C., and chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance’s Fiber Division. “Let me repeat that. This is truly an exciting time to be in the textile industry. We’ve not been able to say that for a while. Webster’s defines ‘renaissance’ as ‘resurgence, reawakening, rebirth and renewal of life.’ And I think all of those apply to what’s going on in our industry today.”
With those words, Bowen certainly captured the feeling that permeated this convention. He went on to say that, just a few years ago, this meeting was much smaller and the industry’s outlook was not great.
“We all try to be optimistic, but we’re also realistic, and we went through some really tough times,” he said. “Whether you’re a textile mill or cotton producer or ginner or machinery supplier, we went through a really rough period. We all had a gut check. We had to reexamine our businesses and look at our strategic plans. And I think it was through innovation and perseverance that we came out on the other side. And those in this room never gave up. And I think that’s a tribute to you all. We’re now experiencing some of that reawakening. Existing plants are adding new machinery and retooling. We’re seeing several new mills just completed and some are on the drawing board. So I think the future is brighter now than it’s been in a long time, so let’s keep the momentum going.”
Earlier that morning during STA’s business function, STA outgoing President Judson Boehmer may have touched on one of major reasons those member companies survived. He said: “One thing I like about this group is you don’t have a negative soul here. It’s all about staying positive. A positive attitude will take you a long way in life, and it has all of us.”
Ac-cent-tchu-ating the positive
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Speakers addressing the group also gave attendees good reasons to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive. For one, Scott Gutche, senior director of U.S. Manufacturing for Walmart, Inc., offered more reasons to believe the retailer is serious about its mission to bring U.S. manufacturing back to this country by putting $250 billion where its mouth is. And Luc Tack, managing director of weaving machine manufacturer Picanol Group of Ypres, Belgium, helped the audience feel more upbeat when he said he and his company believe in the U.S. market for textile production and consumption – then provided several reasons why. And Mike Pereyo, co-founder and co-CEO, OOBE, Inc., Greenville, S.C., offered the group some inspiring parting words by telling his company’s story and adding, “I sense a love and serve model in this room.”
Most STA members and guests have now returned to their daily routines – hopefully still feeling encouraged, enthusiastic and eager to take on the second half of 2015 and beyond.
It’s been a long time coming.