North Carolina State University’s College of Textiles, the only standalone textile college in the US, has received an investment of US$28m to help boost research and training for the next generation of industry leaders.
Following the donation from former student Frederick Eugene Wilson Jnr and his family, the college has now been renamed the Wilson College of Textiles.
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“This gift is significant for the US textile industry,” says Marty Moran, chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO). “As a fellow alumnus I’m proud and grateful to the Wilson family for giving back so selflessly to help others. As the CEO of a textile company and as chairman of the largest Washington, DC-based trade association representing US textiles, I’m excited because this gift will help mould the next generation of leaders and innovators.”
Moran says more than 50 companies participated in the Wilson College of Textiles career fair on 26 September.
“The Wilson family’s donation will benefit not just North Carolinians, but the entire US textile supply chain,” he adds, explaining that NCTO and its member companies often work closely with the college and students on everything from solving technical problems to innovating and manufacturing the fibres, yarns and fabrics of tomorrow.
According to the NCTO, US employment in the textile supply chain was at 550,500 in 2017, while the value of shipments for US textiles and apparel stood at US$77.9bn. Last year, US exports of fibre, textiles and apparel amounted to $28.6bn.
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