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Posted June 15, 2016

 

I’m still catching up after the textile industry’s unofficial “meeting season,” which had me sleeping in hotel rooms 31 out of 42 nights (made possible by low gas prices and an understanding wife). Along the winding road to such cities as Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Va., Charlotte, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., Myrtle Beach, S.C., Tampa, Fla., Atlanta, Ga., and Hilton Head, S.C., I was able to get a good blood-pressure reading on the industry. And, I must say, our pulse is pretty good.

 

The only thing high I found was energy, excitement and enthusiasm for where we are and our prospects for the foreseeable future. Events hosted by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) – the Smart Fabrics Summit in our Nation’s Capital and the Outlook Conference on the South Carolina coast – were sandwiched around six other events.

 

I’ve reported on most of those gatherings already, but I’d like to use this space to review some of the sights and sounds I took in at other meetings, starting with the:

 

Southern Textile Association’s
Northern Division Meeting

 

As it had the previous year, the STA hosted this section meeting at The Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro. The evening session featured Dr. David Hinks, recently appointed dean of the College of Textiles at N.C. State University, and Tom Wilder, Safety Education specialist, North Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Bureau of Education, Training and Technical Assistance.

 

The event was well attended and drew dozens of N.C. State alumni, who turned out to hear Dr. Hinks’ first “official” presentation to this 108-year-old organization. He spoke about a half hour on the subject, “Advancing the U.S. Textiles Enterprise through Public-Private Partnerships.” Pointing out that N.C. State is one of 14 U.S. Innovation & Economic Prosperity universities, he defined its Centennial Campus – an award-winning public-private partnership model – as a “one-stop shop” for research, development and commercialization.

 

Hinks provided a snapshot of U.S. textile and apparel employment (535,000 in 2014) as well as the industry’s components’ employment (128,000 in 2014) before unveiling the College of Textiles’ strategic plan aimed at preparing students to enter the industry. He also discussed The Nonwovens Institute’s role and impact on the industry, the College’s Textile Protection and Comfort Center and the Zeis Textile Extension for Economic Development. The latter, he noted, provides training and certification in textiles and Lean Six Sigma, and serves the textile industry’s prototyping and pilot production needs in its five laboratories – spun yarn, knitting, weaving, dyeing and finishing and physical testing.

 

All exciting stuff for our industry. As was the:

Spring postscript: Energy,

enthusiasm, excitement

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Synthetic Yarn and Fiber Association’s Spring Conference

 

I must admit, I had to miss the first day of this two-day event due to a conflict with another conference to which I had previously committed. But the second day was well worth the five-hour drive from Williamsburg to Charlotte. Under the theme “Textile Materials in Motion: Moving Industry Forward,” the meeting featured nine speakers, and I was on hand for five presentations.

 

Of note: Aaron Ledet, VP, U.S. Manufacturing, VF Corporation, discussed the worldwide apparel and footwear brand company’s sourcing strategy and the made-in-America movement. Mixed in were numbers related to U.S. consumer spending on apparel, global wages and retail prices and how they all affect the company’s strategy.

 

For product, VF uses a mix of internal manufacturing, transactional sourcing and a hybrid of both of those methods, Ledet said, noting that the company’s VF Engineering Support group has developed a cut-and-sew and finishing model factory. Made-in-America makes sense for the company through its license with Major League Baseball to make uniforms for every team, its high-fashion, fast-moving Luxury Denim and Splendid brands made in Los Angeles and its low-labor, quick-turn screen-printing operations, he said.

Also providing compelling commentary:
​

  • Hardy Sullivan, vice president of Research & Development at Crypton, Inc., who offered an insightful look into new fabric finishes and coatings;

  • Jeff Dugan, co-founder and vice president of Research at Fiber Innovation Technology, who presented “Adaptive Breathability in an Apparel Fiber – Delivered by Precise Cross Section Control;”

  • Alasdair Carmichael of PCI Wood Mackenzie, who went over the impact of oil and gas on synthetic fibers; and

  • Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, who offered his take on the U.S. economy, noting that it should weather the global economic slowdown despite the fact that exports will continue to decelerate.
     

As I’ve said before, if you’re looking for an association that will serve your educational and information needs related to industry trends, I highly recommend the SYFA. It meets twice a year in Charlotte and always manages to put together an excellent program. And the networking in and of itself is worth the price of admission.

 

My travels also took me to Myrtle Beach for the:

South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance’s Annual Plant Manager’s Meeting

 

I attended this three-day event at the special invitation of SCMA’s Gloria Freeman and Jessica Watts, and I knew it was important, with a textile industry leader serving as chairman of that SCMA group. Mike Kingsmore, president & COO of Palmetto Finishing, headed the division this past year and, incidentally, is in line to be elected president of the Southern Textile Association at this same coastal destination next week.

 

In his opening remarks, Kingsmore pointing out that he will turn 57 years old this year – the same age as his dad Doug was when he was elected president of SCMA’s predecessor group in 1990. He also spoke to the value of being a part of this statewide manufacturers group.

 

“Resources are limited, especially if you’re with a small company like I am,” he said. “Many of my resources are in this room, and having known you through this group, I know I can pick up the phone, call you and find an answer quickly. A lot of you know how the textile industry has been decimated in the last 25 years, and I’m glad to see we’re making something of a resurgence the last couple of years. For my textile brethren, let’s get back to being a proud part of this organization.”

Plant managers also heard presentations related to global trade, training and workforce development, hiring, healthcare, safety and leadership.

 

• • •

 

During my travels, I gained so much information and insights into issues affecting our industry, I felt like my head would explode. But things have simmered down the past couple of weeks and I hope to catch my breath soon.

 

I have another three-week excursion starting Saturday, when I leave for the STA/Joint Fiber Buyers’ Annual Meetings, then take a couple of weeks off for R&R. But you’ll still be hearing from me as I monitor the news and keep you updated on anything important that happens in our great industry.

 

Y’all be safe this summer and try to get some rest yourselves – but don’t go silent on me. If you hear or see anything you think I should be aware of, please contact me. News never stops (and I hardly ever sleep).

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