Digitally printed fabrics for outdoor furnishings coupled with an efficient cut and sew fabrication process offer a game changing strategy for the domestic textile complex. Specifically, the objective of this project is to make significant portions of the outdoor furniture soft goods production in the USA competitive with overseas production. This will be accomplished by implementing new technologies in both fabric printing and cut/sew operations to enable a) the cost-effective domestic production required for success in servicing Walmart; b) new product innovations not feasible using current production technologies in this category, and c) a flexible and responsive supply chain capable of quick response to customer market trends.

This proposal sets out to understand the current industry needs for reshoring and existing support organizations that may have interest in this initiative. It is anticipated that industry needs will be very diverse as much of the needed infrastructure is fragmented and the needed skills have been eroded. However, there are a significant number of textile related firms in North Carolina that may be able to add infrastructure once the infrastructure needs are identified. To be effective in its mission, NC State University?s College of Textile must better understand the needs related to reshoring. There are multiple approaches that need to undergo investigation over the next several years. First, however, is a need to map the skill sets for individuals engaged in reshoring. It is expected that during the early stages of reshoring, there will be a need for experienced personnel that can multi-task. To this end, the PIs propose to hire a Research Assistant to work closely with the sponsor (Gryphon Seams, Division of Burlington Technologies, Burlington , NC) that actively pursuing a reshoring strategy to conduct research as to the needs for reshoring.

Altaeros contacted NC State University College of Textiles to collaborate with their team in developing and evaluating laminate textile structures for using as inflatable shell for their Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT) that operates at height of over 1,000 ft to harvest wind energy. At such height the wind speed is much higher than that of traditional wind turbine.

This research project is a collaborative effort between the TATM Faculty from the College of Textiles, TC2, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos and the Peruvian textile company CREDITEX. All four parties submitted a proposal to FIDECOM. Prior to submitting the proposal, In March 2010 the College of Textiles faculty submitted an Intent to Collaborate letter as an initial commitment to the FIDECOM proposal process. CREDITEX will receive the funds and distribute to each party. A total of eight research and education modules were proposed by NC State College of Textiles? faculty. At present, three of the modules are funded for year one, with a plan to fund three or more proposals the following year, pending further funding by FIDECOM. The College of Textiles component of the project will involve a series of onsite consultations at the CREDITEX facility and an offsite analysis and written report to be submitted to CREDITEX. For billing purposes, CREDITEX has asked NCSU to charge services for each module into two parts; Consultancy and Technical Services. Consultancy Objective: The objective of the Consultancy component of the project is to provide an on-site evaluation of i) current product development work flow, ii) skill level of personal, and iii) working technologies. Technical Services Objective: The object of the Technological Service component of the project is to i) analyze the findings of the on-site consultations, ii) provide reports on the technologies and tools available on the market, and iii) recommend technologies and processes that improve CREDITEX?s product development workflow, and iv) assist with plans for implementation of new technologies and processes.

This research project is a collaborative effort between the TATM Faculty from the College of Textiles, TC2, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos and the Peruvian textile company CREDITEX. All four parties submitted a proposal to FIDECOM. Prior to submitting the proposal, In March 2010 the College of Textiles faculty submitted an Intent to Collaborate letter as an initial commitment to the FIDECOM proposal process. CREDITEX will receive the funds and distribute to each party. A total of eight research and education modules were proposed by NC State College of Textiles? faculty. At present, three of the modules are funded for year one, with a plan to fund three or more proposals the following year, pending further funding by FIDECOM. The College of Textiles component of the project will involve a series of onsite consultations at the CREDITEX facility and an offsite analysis and written report to be submitted to CREDITEX. For billing purposes, CREDITEX has asked NCSU to charge services for each module into two parts; Consultancy and Technical Services. Consultancy Objective: The objective of the Consultancy component of the project is to provide an on-site evaluation of i) current product development work flow, ii) skill level of personal, and iii) working technologies. Technical Services Objective: The object of the Technological Service component of the project is to i) analyze the findings of the on-site consultations, ii) provide reports on the technologies and tools available on the market, and iii) recommend technologies and processes that improve CREDITEX?s product development workflow, and iv) assist with plans for implementation of new technologies and processes.

This research will develop a "checklist manifesto" that maps the sustainability of new textile products before they are adopted for production. The concept of a "checklist manifesto' can be found in the airline industry and more recently being developed for medical surgeries as a way to prevent errors, failures, and potential catastrophes. As new products changes from the Ideation stage through the research, design, development, approval, and product launch stages, many different corporate and customer requirements are infused. The textile complex does not have an organized plan to assess the "sustainability" of new textile products through the value chain, nor through the product development stages.

The research will build a ?warehouse? of information that can be used by textile firms to assess their competitiveness in terms of products having a ?sustainable footprint?. The approach to building the warehouse requires a multiplicity of approaches resulting in an online database of critical parameters and approaches for integration of the ?tactics? into the next generation of textile products. A major challenge is to ?inform? the textile complex about the intricacies of making advances towards a ?sustainable textile footprint?. A major first step is to establish to current state of knowledge, practice, and near term plans for sustainable textile products. A follow on step is to assess the next opportunity available for the entire textile complex with a focus on the ?segment? most likely to yield new products and enhanced competitiveness.

This proposal is a specific application of the general Memorandum of Understanding previously approved by officers of COT and TTSC/CITI. The areas of focus which are to be pursued are considered to represent the current and near future needs of Sri Lanka and were proposed after initial discussions between representatives of these organizations. A subsequent fact finding mission, by a group from NC State to Sri Lanka, spent time visiting various academic institutions and different sectors of the industry. In addition panel discussions were held with different groups that play a significant role in the Sri Lankan textile and apparel industry and brief notes from this visit are appended (Appendix 1). There was surprising concordance within the various groups with respect to the perceived shortcomings in certain skills within the Sri Lankan industries and there was very strong affirmation that the originally selected focus areas were indeed the most vital. The specific areas which have been identified were selected after the above described considerations of the needs of the Sri Lankan industry and the expertise that is available within the College of Textiles at NC State (COT). These are: Technical Design and Product Development Supply Chain Development & Management Industrial Engineering It is proposed that COT will provide personnel who will help the Sri Lankan industry acquire and develop strengths in each area by assisting in the creation of suitable courses and providing industry seminars. Additionally, suitably qualified staff from Sri Lanka will be hosted by COT and will be familiarized with innovative teaching methods and current research activities and furthermore will be encouraged to obtain further academic qualifications (Graduate Certificates and/or Masters Degrees).

Form-fitted athletic wear is commonly used for active sports apparel. Well known brands include Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Under Armor, etc. The appropriate amount of pressure and contact sensation, superior elastic and support properties, and optimum regulation of thermal and moisture are critical prerequisites for form-fitted athletic wears to achieve satisfactory wearing comfort and functional performances for the athletes participating in dynamic sports. Performance largely depends on the scientific balance and integration of engineered design and functionally designed fabrics with high performances. The present research is to develop a sound understanding of the interaction mechanisms involved and factors influencing comfort and functional performances of form-fitted athletic wear by conducting systematic scientific measurements and evaluation approaches. These include selection and application of high-performances functional materials, physical-mechanical instrumental testing, contact and pressure functional performance assessment, thermal/moisture objective and subjective wear trials, and psychological comfort responses investigation and analysis. By using 3D body scanning technology, well designed prototypes of form-fitted athletic wears using new developed functional knitted fabrics will be generated. Based on numbers of instrumental measurements and dynamic wear trials, the quantitative relationships among physical-mechanical and thermal-moisture properties, three-dimensional clothing pressure performance, thermal/moisture and contact sensations, and overall comfort perception towards athletic wear will be established. The results will help elucidate the involved mechanisms and influential factors, and offer a valuable basis for more accurately defining functional physical attributes of selected high performance materials. Predicting and evaluating 3D wearing performances and dynamic comfort based on functional fabrics properties will further assist in optimizing the design parameters for determining the comfort and functional performance of form-fitted athletic wears.

This research proposal is to conduct analyses of the textile industry in South Carolina. With today's global competitiveness in the textile industry, it is important to study the South Carolina textile industry cluster, identify core competencies of South Carolina companies, and determine ways to assist these companies for increased global competitiveness ( "to re-learn to compete"in order to "survive and thrive"). Specifically, SC Council on Competitiveness will secure North Carolina State University (NC State) College of Textiles' personnel to assist in three areas: Market Analyses of South Carolina textile industry, segment South Carolina textile companies into three categories, and determine needed assistance for companies. Results will provide a proactive roadmap for the South Carolina textile industry cluster.