INTRODUCING THE FUTURE OF TEXTILE INNOVATION
THE FLEX FACTORY
A PRIORITY, NOT A PREFERENCE
The global manufacturing landscape is rapidly becoming more volatile. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a spotlight was shone on the impact that manufacturing shortages can have on our national security. A lack of adequate supply from the U.S. textiles and apparel industry — including personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical textiles — raised awareness about the need to increase domestic manufacturing for our nation’s safety and livelihood.
According to Forbes, less than 3% of products within the $400 billion U.S. apparel industry are made in America. Our textile industry has an essential role to play in promoting American manufacturing and the return of overseas business operations to the United States.
With an unfulfilled high demand for Made in America brands and a call for a more diverse workforce, the need for domestically manufactured textiles, including those beyond PPE, is no longer a preference; it’s an absolute priority.
GLOBAL LEADER IN TEXTILE EDUCATION AND INNOVATION
As the only college in the Americas devoted entirely to textiles and the number one recognized textiles institution globally , NC State University’s Wilson College of Textiles is uniquely positioned to lead this resurgence.
The college offers unparalleled hands-on, science-based textile education through two departments: the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management and the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science. Students receive one-on-one mentoring from award-winning faculty and conduct both undergraduate and graduate research.
Through the rise of synthetic fibers, globalization and automation, we have evolved, adapted and positioned ourselves, our students and our alumni to reach their fullest potential. For decades, the Wilson College of Textiles has been a driving force of domestic economic development.
TOP FIVE STATES FOR TEXTILE JOBS
In the past two years, companies from around the world have begun or expanded operations in rural North Carolina. This growth has brought hundreds of new jobs and an investment of more than $100 million to our state. One of the driving factors in this decision is access to the Wilson College’s superior textiles education, research and development, as well as proximity to the best textiles workforce in the nation: our graduates.
In 2018, our college received a transformational philanthropic investment of $28 million from the Wilson family of Piedmont Chemical Industries in High Point, NC — a multi-generational textiles alumni family.
This college-naming gift marked a significant milestone in the upward trajectory of the U.S. textile industry. The intent of this gift is to inspire essential partnerships and initiatives, elevate the impact in North Carolina, and provide future generations with the same opportunities as their predecessors, while also bolstering Dean David Hinks’ audacious goal of doubling domestic manufacturing in the near future.
Our brand-new, state-of-the-art Flex Factory will further expand our college’s real-world impact on our state and our nation’s economic growth within the global textile industry.
#1 TEXTILES INSTITUTION IN THE WORLD
The Wilson College of Textiles at NC State is the number one recognized textiles institution globally and the only college in the Americas devoted entirely to textiles.
ONLY TEXTILES INSTITUTION IN THE AMERICAS
UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH DURING AN EXTRAORDINARY CAMPAIGN
NC State University’s Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, which came to a close on Dec. 31, 2021, was by far the largest in the university’s history. During the campaign, the Wilson College of Textiles experienced exceptional growth.
With help from 3,216 supporters, the college raised more than $65 million during NC State’s Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign to continue providing life-changing student scholarships, investing in groundbreaking research and forging collaborative partnerships with industry leaders and local entrepreneurs.
In this end-of-campaign impact report , you can read how donor support has further transformed the Wilson College of Textiles and continues to empower our students, staff and faculty to continue learning, leading and advancing.
$65.5 + M RAISED DURING THE CAMPAIGN
During the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, the North Carolina Textile Foundation raised $65,734,664 for the Wilson College of Textiles.
180% INCREASE IN DOLLARS
Between fiscal years 2014 and 2019, there was a 180% increase in dollars concurrent with a more than double increase in donors.
3,000 + DONORS GAVE TO THE COLLEGE
Supporters of the Wilson College of Textiles — 3,216 donors — rallied together to support students, staff, faculty and innovation in research and education.
7,800 + GIFTS / COMMITMENTS
The generosity of donors has had an incredible impact on the Wilson College of Textiles through 7,886 gifts and new commitments.
2,400 + ALUMNI GAVE
Between fiscal years 2016 and 2021, an outpouring of donor support for the Wilson College came from 2,439 NC State alumni.
In this engaging video, college leaders, alumni, donors and industry partners share why they chose to support during the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign. Their gifts continue to leave a lasting impact on our college, our students, our academic programs, the state of North Carolina and the textiles industry.
NCTF ENDOWMENT DOUBLES DURING THE CAMPAIGN
The North Carolina Textile Foundation (NCTF) serves as the philanthropic arm of the Wilson College of Textiles, and it makes the college’s groundbreaking, industry-leading work possible. The NCTF’s mission is to advance the Wilson College of Textiles through engagement, partnership and philanthropy. During the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, the NCTF’s endowment doubled from $41,510,452 to $85,382,888. After reaching such a high level of success, the NCTF is even more motivated and driven to continue to build off of the philanthropic momentum our donors have provided.
INDUSTRY PARTNERS PROPEL OUR COLLEGE FORWARD
The Wilson College of Textiles’ top industry partners support the college through their engagement, partnership and philanthropy, which directly supports the NCTF’s mission.
» 1888 Mills, LLC
» A. B. Carter, Inc.
» ATEX Technologies, Inc.
» Belk, Inc.
» Blue Bell Foundation
» Bob Barker Company, Inc.
» Carter Foundation, Inc.
» Cone Mills Charitable Fund
» Cotton Incorporated
» Culp, Inc.
» Edward M. Armfield, Sr. Foundation
» Elevate Textiles
» F. M. Kirby Foundation, Inc.
» Gildan Activewear, Inc.
» Glen Raven, Inc.
» Gordon & Marjorie Osborne Foundation
» HanesBrands, Inc.
» Hill Spinning Mill
» Hunter Douglas Group
» Jacques Weber Foundation, Inc.
» JB Martin Co.
» Kohl’s Corporation
» Kontoor Brands, Inc.
» Lear Corporation
» Levi Strauss & Co.
» Milliken & Company
» Mohawk Industries, Inc.
» Parkdale Mills
» Stein Fibers, Ltd.
» The Dickson Foundation, Inc.
» The McMichael Family Foundation
» Under Armour, Inc.
» Unifi Manufacturing, Inc.
» VF Corporation
HUB FOR HYPER-COLLABORATION
Upon its anticipated opening in 2024, in conjunction with our celebration of the Wilson College of Textiles’ 125th anniversary, the college’s Flex Factory will become one of the world’s leading makerspaces for entrepreneurs seeking to develop fiber and textile-based products and businesses.
With the recent reinvestment of over $100 million and more than 1,000 new textile jobs in the state of North Carolina alone, there are unlimited opportunities for the Flex Factory to capitalize on this growth.
The Flex Factory will be housed within the college’s 300,000-square-foot research and development facility on NC State’s Centennial Campus, which is one of North America’s premier research parks.
The more than 5,000-square-feet Flex Factory will include:
» Modern classrooms and flexible spaces for lifelong education and collaboration
» A showroom for manufacturers and vendors to display and demonstrate products
» A prototyping area with cutting, sewing and spinning equipment
» Body scanners, 3D printers, embroidery machines, drill presses, radial saws and more
With support from public-private partnerships, the Flex Factory will enable textile-based entrepreneurial success and catalyze new business development in North Carolina and beyond.
INCREASING DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING
Investments from industry partners will make our goal of increasing domestic manufacturing from less than 3% — where it is currently — to 5% possible, when partnered with the Flex Factory’s advanced capabilities.
#4 IN STARTUPS
NC State is #4 in the U.S. for startups launched among universities without a medical school. There are more than 190 startups and spinoffs based on NC State research.
PILLARS OF IMPACT
Groundbreaking Research and Development
Our faculty and staff span diverse research areas from textile design and management to engineering and chemistry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, experts from the Wilson College’s Nonwovens Institute developed a new spun-bond material to be used as an effective filter in personal protective equipment (PPE). This creation, in turn, protected thousands of medical workers on the front lines. In addition to supporting our faculty researchers, the Flex Factory will answer manufacturers’ call for a space to test new ideas and rapidly develop commercial prototypes. By housing the latest, stateof-the-art textiles equipment under one roof, the Flex Factory offers its industry partners the ability to focus on innovation.
Workforce Development and Job Creation
The factory will inspire new textile business development with an emphasis on sustainable, equitable and competitive U.S. supply chain manufacturing. Its ability to strengthen the college’s research to commercialization pipeline will allow the Flex Factory to meet the immediate needs of rural North Carolinians who desire more economic opportunities. According to the National Council of Textile Organizations, one textile job supports three additional jobs within major textile-producing states.
Focus on Strengthening Military and “American Made”
To abide by the Berry Amendment, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is prohibited from purchasing certain products — including clothing and fabrics — that aren’t 100% domestic in origin. According to the National Council of Textile Organizations, the DoD’s purchasing activity estimates that more than 8,000 different textile items are acquired annually for use by the U.S. military and other allied organizations. Our college’s longstanding expertise in cutting-edge textiles has led to a strong relationship with the military, which includes a recent $5 million research and development grant funded by the DoD. The Flex Factory’s world-class facilities and equipment will catalyze the production of Americanmade textile technology, and there is an opportunity to scale up to meet an increase in military needs. This collaboration offers our students, faculty and industry partners, including Walmart, an indefinite mission to create textiles that will keep our armed services safe.
PILLARS OF IMPACT
Community College Partnership
In 2022, the Wilson College of Textiles entered into a Community College Collaboration (C3) partnership with Gaston College and Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) in an effort to establish a pipeline for educating the textile industry’s top talent. This agreement ensures that students who complete an associate degree from Gaston College or CVCC will have those two years count directly toward a bachelor’s degree from the Wilson College of Textiles. The Flex Factory will join Gaston College and CVCC’s newly established Manufacturing and Textile Innovation Network . This vital partnership will empower all three institutions to develop a regional workforce focused on advanced materials, automation and textile testing development.
Driving Hands-On Learning
Students within the Wilson College of Textiles will have access to the Flex Factory for experiential learning opportunities that will prepare them to thrive within the textile workforce. Additionally, a space within the facility will be dedicated to the college’s Senior Design program, where students work alongside their corporate sponsors to tackle the urgent challenges facing our industry.
APPEAL FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
As the Wilson College of Textiles continues its remarkable upward trajectory, you will be on the frontlines by investing in the global leader in textile education, research and scholarship. The North Carolina Textile Foundation, which serves as the philanthropic arm of the Wilson College of Textiles, invites you to support this charge by investing in the Flex Factory.
Your partnership with the Wilson College of Textiles will help reinvent the next generation of rural, local and global textile supply chain-related infrastructure and innovation.
SEE THE FLEX FACTORY IN ACTION
The Flex Factory will provide a world-class research and incubation ecosystem for current students, alumni, faculty, staff and industry partners to develop their textile businesses with an emphasis on domestic production, sustainability, workforce development and innovation.
We invite you to watch a video walkthrough of the Wilson College of Textiles Flex Factory.
TOTAL 534,000 JOBS
KEY PARTNER IN MANUFACTURING USA
NC State is a partner in seven public/private institutes — the most of any university in the country — that make up Manufacturing USA , a federal initiative to revitalize America’s manufacturing industry.
