Posted December 7, 2016

When I first heard about a Vanguard Pai Lung initiative designed to boost the reshoring movement to the U.S. and this hemisphere, I was excited, to say the least.

Then I visited the company’s headquarters in Monroe, N.C.

And came away downright giddy – perhaps as giddy as the two leaders of Vanguard’s Wildfire concept, aimed at clearing some of the technical hurdles and overcoming knowledge gaps that are hindering the movement of textile and apparel manufacturing back to the Western Hemisphere.

Mike Moody and Mandi Strickland certainly hope – nay, are convinced – that Wildfire will spread quickly and blaze new pathways for manufacturing innovation on this region’s shores. Indeed, reshoring is a hot topic these days, and Vanguard has taken a leadership role in pushing it into the mainstream with its leadership in this arena.

As noted in this week’s top story, family-owned Vanguard, the only remaining U.S. knitting machine manufacturer, created this initiative to help brands, designers and manufacturers develop innovative fabric technologies that transform end results, through education and technical expertise,

When I visited Vanguard recently, I was treated to what I now call the Mike and Mandi Show – an exuberant, extemporaneous interview that could only come from deep-seated knowledge about and endearment for the subject matter. After just a few minutes, I was quickly convinced that they were onto something – something big, something different, something game changing. Their white-hot passion for Wildfire was infectious, and that unfettered zeal likely will work wonders in their efforts to ensure its success. Their spirited presentation was reinforced by their knowledge and expertise of the issues that are impeding a more rapid flow of manufacturing migration.

These two self-described “textile nerds” bounced off each other as effortlessly as Rowan and Martin, Abbott and Costello or Ricky and Lucy. Moody is the yin – the Rain Man of all things technical and machine related – to Strickland’s yang – the retail and brand mind behind all things design and development in the textile realm. Together, they from a formidable duo that play well off each other’s strengths, particularly when interpreting a conversation, challenge or issue, then developing a solution.

So, needless to say, count me among the converted. Moody and Strickland are textile “evangelists” who have much good news to spread about Wildfire. I would encourage you to ask them to hold a “revival” at your company, if applicable. They’re certainly leading a resurrection of sorts in our industry.

Vanguard's Wildfire:

Sparking a revival?