Posted October 8, 2014

 

October has been quite a whirlwind so far. I spent the first day of the month attending the Department of Defense workshop on the Fiber & Textile Innovative Manufacturing Institute in Belmont, N.C., and the next two days covering the Synthetic Yarn and Fiber Association’s fall conference in Charlotte. This week, I took part in Greenwood Mills’ 125th anniversary celebration in Greenwood, S.C. Next week, I’m off to Minneapolis to attend the Industrial Fabric Association International’s Specialty Fabrics Expo and Advanced Textiles Expo. The balance of the month promises to be just as busy.

 

And I love it.

 

Workshops, conferences, celebrations, trade shows – all of these kinds of events help make this industry dynamic and vibrant. It’s been terrific witnessing our industry members stay so active and involved – not to mention seeing a lot of old friends and meeting new ones.

 

Greenwood anniversary

 

Over the last few months, I’ve spent a lot of time writing an addendum to Greenwood Mills’ history book, The Character of Quality. I was honored and humbled when Greenwood President Jay Self asked me to take on this project early in the year. The first edition of the book was written in 1964 on the occasion of the company’s 75th anniversary. It was updated three more times, the last in its centennial year in 1989, and I refreshed the book to include the last 25 years. It will be published soon on the company’s website. Attendees of Greenwood’s celebration Tuesday night received an early copy of the book and a slideshow I created for the event.

 

Greenwood Mills has remained a viable player in the U.S. textile industry through a long period of global volatility that led to dramatic domestic industry contraction. Since 1889, Greenwood Mills has demonstrated a tremendous ability to adapt to change and endure. Through wars, a Depression, recessions, energy crises, rapidly rising imports and more, the company has made its way in the world of textiles.

 

eTC will feature Greenwood Mills as our 2014 Industry Champion on November 7. If you are a supplier and/or friend of this legacy company and would like to send the good folks at Greenwood Mills your congratulations and best wishes in that edition, please contact us here. It’s sure to be a well-read and in-depth edition.

 

IFAI expos

 

As mentioned, next week I’ll be burning up the floors at the Minneapolis Convention Center bringing you coverage of the IFAI trade shows. If you’re exhibiting and would like me to stop by your booth to say hello, please contact me here. For frequent updates, follow us on Twitter at @eTexComms.

 

I haven’t covered this sector’s largest trade show in several years, and I’m looking forward to checking out its new offerings in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, don’t cha know.

 

Speaking of IFAI, it was a pleasure seeing the association’s former head, Steve Warner, and hearing his presentation on the technical textile market during the SYFA event last week. Steve and I go way back, so I’m happy to give him a plug. Today, he serves as an industry consultant and publishes the BeaverLake6 Report covering technical textiles. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out and subscribe to his site.

 

I look forward to seeing some of you soon. Keep those invites coming.