News

Students in the Gaston College Textile Technology program recently participated in a semester-long project aligned with the principles of fiber, textile technology processes and sustainability taught in the program’s Fundamentals of Textiles course. This project, the Seed2Shirt Textile Design Challenge, was sponsored by Seed2Shirt, a company that is a client of the Gaston College Textile Technology Center.

Seed2Shirt, based in Lompoc, California, with offices in Greensboro, N.C., is one of the first black woman-owned vertically integrated ethical T-shirt manufacturing and boutique cotton merchant companies in the U.S. Its products are ethically and sustainably manufactured from cotton material from African and African American cotton farmers. With a business-for-good model, a percentage of every sale goes to their Farmer Enrichment Program which supports the very farmers they source from.

The Textile Technology Associate in Applied Science degree program prepares students for work as Textile Technicians and as Textile Designers. Nine students participated in the project, which provided opportunities to become familiar with the sponsoring organization through co-sponsored course assignments, special laboratory activities, and in-person lectures led by Seed2Shirt staff.

The students worked throughout the semester to produce a final paper and presentation that proposed a solution to environmental and ethical issues plaguing cotton yarn production, farming and apparel. The Seed2Shirt team assembled leading innovation and sustainability leaders to judge the projects. Also serving on the judging panel were Sarah Hammond of Nike Innovation and Rebecca Burgess, executive director of Fibershed, a non-profit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health. Burgess was a virtual guest speaker at the presentation event, inspiring the staff and students about the power of local production and the possibilities of Seed2Shirt work in the region.

The winning project was “Cotton Production and Manufacturing Inefficiencies” by student Lauren Eck. “Her project represented a deep level of understanding of project parameters, and her proposal addressed challenges and solutions at all levels of the value chain, i.e., farm, textile processing and final product,” said Tameka R. Peoples, founder/CEO and director of operations at Seed2Shirt. “Most importantly, Lauren’s project proposal highlighted critical educational points regarding the challenges of waste in fast fashion at the consumer and textile/fabric design levels.”

According to Peoples, Lauren’s proposal and final project included some critical farm solution recommendations that Seed2Shirt sees tremendous value in pursuing, including U.S. Department of Agriculture grants that support farm regenerative practices.

All the students who participated in the project received a one-of-a-kind Seed2Shirt T-shirt which embodies sustainable and ethical production standards. As the winner of the project challenge, Lauren Eck also received an exclusive pre-release Seed2Shirt Member Box.

“Gaston College, with its Textile Technology program, is one of the leading educational and innovative technology campuses/centers in the state of North Carolina,” said Peoples. “The program and campus are well known for educating and producing high caliber textile services and leading industry professionals, which is critical for growing the diverse U.S. textile industry and critical in supporting companies like Seed2Shirt in growing a more resilient, sustainable future for U.S. textiles.

“Lauren’s project, along with all the students who participated in our inaugural sponsored Sustainable Textile project, was the epitome of the professional excellence the Gaston College Textile Technology program produces,” Peoples continued. “Thank you to Lauren and everyone who participated, and to Gaston College for their collaborative partnership—you are the example of what it will take to grow U.S. textiles’ sustainable future.”

Seed2Shirt is the first company to sponsor a student project for the Textile Technology program, and they intend to continue their collaborative sponsored partnership work with the program and to support annual semester projects to provide more exposure and opportunity pathways for Gaston College students. Jasmine Cox-Wade, program chair and executive director of the Textile Technology Center, said, “In the future we would like to work with several organizations to support student learning. Partnering with the Gaston College Textile Technology program will provide companies with the opportunity to engage with students prior to graduation and provide exposure and awareness of what a modern-day textile industry job consists of.” Companies interested in sponsoring a semester project or serving as a guest speaker can contact Cox-Wade at [email protected].

Gaston College and other members of the N.C. Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine participate in round table with the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology

NCTISE is an inaugural winner of the NSF Regional Innovation Engines award

On Wednesday, February 21, Jasmine Cox-Wade, executive director of the Gaston College Textile Technology Center, participated in a round table discussion with fellow textile industry leaders during an event that took place at the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, N.C.

The event followed the January 29, 2024, announcement from the U.S. National Science Foundation that the North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine is one of ten groups to win the inaugural NSF Regional Innovation Engines award. Gaston College is a member of the NCTISE leadership team. The other members of the leadership team are The Industrial Commons, NC State University Wilson College of Textiles, the Manufacturing Solutions Center at Catawba Valley Community College, NC IDEA, the N.C. Department of Commerce, RTI International, and Western Piedmont Community College.

The MSC welcomed Michal Ziv-El, NSF program director, Graciela Narcho, NSF deputy assistant director, and Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, who toured the facility prior to the round table discussion. Dr. Prabhakar was visiting North Carolina as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Tour.

During the round table discussion, Cox-Wade addressed the importance of technical training through community colleges and touted Gaston College’s Textile Technology associate degree program, which prepares students for work as textile technicians and as textile designers. The program offers an affordable, accessible education and the ability to transfer credits to a four-year university, such as NC State, along with work-based learning opportunities that put students on the path to a career in textiles.

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines award, “Creating a Modern, Green and Inclusive Textile Sector,” will advance our nation’s capacity for innovation in textiles through a lens of environmental sustainability and with an eye toward circularity, positioning the Engine as a global leader in this sector. The award grants the Engine $15 million over two years with the possibility of future additional funding.

Uster Technologies, a global leader in quality testing instruments headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, has donated fiber and yarn testing equipment valued at over $1.2 million to the Gaston College Textile Technology Center. The company has partnered with the Textile Technology Center for over 10 years to offer textile industry customized training seminars and training for students in the Textile Technology associate degree program.

The donated equipment is used for yarn testing, evaluation of tensile properties, fiber process control, and yarn classification, and it has enabled Textile Technology Center laboratory personnel to provide clients with data to support the latest advancements in sustainability and functional textile innovations.

The equipment will be showcased in the Kimbrell Classroom Building on Gaston College’s campus in Belmont, N.C., when building renovations are complete. “We hope that with the pending upfit and renovation of our laboratory facility, we can expand our training catalog with the help of the equipment donated by Uster,” said Jasmine Cox-Wade, Executive Director of the Textile Technology Center.

An additional piece of equipment, the Uster HVI 1000 M1000, used for fiber classification analysis, will be delivered upon completion of the state-of-the-art Fiber Innovation Center, which is currently under construction on the Gaston College Kimbrell Campus. The FIC is scheduled to be completed by early 2024.

Winter Schedule Announcement

The Textile Technology Center will be closed for Christmas break from December 19, 2020 until January 4, 2021.  We apologize for any inconvenience.  Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation.  If you have any additional questions please call at 704.825.3737.

COVID-19 Update – December 7^th :

Gaston County is currently experiencing a high rate of positive COVID-19 cases and noted as a “Red Zone” under NC Government Executive Orders.  In order to protect the safety of our staff, you may experience delay in service lead time as we operate under an altered schedule. Customer visitation will be restricted until further notice. 

The Textile Technology Center (TTC) will remain taking precautions to keep our customers and staff members healthy and safe. Staff members may operate utilizing a hybrid (remote and in person) and staggered business schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience.

We have three drop-off locations available for samples. Samples for the labs/process areas may be dropped off near the reception area, to the left of the Microscopy Lab entrance at the back of the building, and outside of the front entrance or delivered to us via your preferred carrier. Drop box visuals can be found below. Restrictions will remain in place until further notice and will be updated as more information is available.

Drop Box Locations

Should you have any questions, please reach out to your TTC contacts. Stay Safe!

COVID-19 Response – March 29:

The last few weeks have brought challenges to our communities that we never could have predicted. As the spread of COVID-19 continues across the globe, the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College implemented the recommendations of the CDC for frequent handwashing, social distancing and social isolation as we’ve worked to continue our support of the textile industry and the fight against COVID-19. 

Like many other businesses are discovering in the midst of this pandemic, the impacts of coronavirus can become very personal. On the evening of March 27, 2020, we received the unfortunate news that one of our employees at the Textile Technology Center tested positive for coronavirus. Our thoughts and support are with all of those who are fighting this disease, their family members, and also with our health, medical and first responder communities who are on the front lines every day fighting this pandemic.

While all recommended practices have been followed at the center, and no other employees are showing symptoms at this time, in an abundance of precaution, employees have been contacted and were requested to self-quarantine through April 12, 2020 and monitor their health. During this time, the Textile Center will be closed and we will be working with the local health department to ensure proper protocols are followed.

All of us at the Textile Technology Center remain committed to supporting our customers and we look forward to resuming operations on April 13, 2020. If you have any questions you can contact me at 704.825.6260 or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Sam Buff
Textile Technology Center Director

COVID-19 Response – March 17:

The impact of the COVID-19 virus in the United States is difficult to predict and will remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. Out of an abundance of caution, the Textile Technology Center (TTC) is taking precautions to keep our customers and staff members healthy and safe.

Effective immediately, all business travel by TTC personnel must be deemed critical prior to being scheduled. This includes TTC staff members traveling to customers/suppliers/industry events and/or customers/suppliers traveling to the TTC. The TTC leadership team will provide final approval for any travel.

Our staff members will operate business as usual. Samples for the labs/process areas may be dropped off at the reception area, drop box to the left of the Microscopy Lab entrance at the back of the building, container outside of the front entrance or delivered to us via your preferred carrier. Drop box visuals can be found below. 

These restrictions will remain in place until further notice and will be updated as more information is available. Please visit our website or our LinkedIn for the latest updates.

The TTC understands that these precautions may impact the way we interact over the coming months. We ask for your understanding as we focus on the health and well-being of our staff and customers.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to your TTC contacts.

Sincerely, 
Sam Buff, Textile Technology Center

Textile Training Opportunities

Spring 2020 Master Calendar

Mark your calendars! Training events supported by NC Textile Training Initiative Fund*

New!!!! Drawing Autoleveler Optimization –March 3, 2020 (Len Furlough)

The influence of the drawing process on downstream yarn quality  is significant. Variations, faults and defects in the draw sliver pass thru into yarn and impact yarn strength/elongation at break.  This class will discuss cause /effect of the process variables and a methodology to determine optimum drawing setups and procedures.

Class is scheduled 8:30 AM-4:30 PM at the Textile Center

• MVS Spinning Class- May 20, 2020 (Terry Bame, Muratec & Len Furlough 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • This Vortex spinning seminar will focus on optimizing machine setups and methods/techniques to produce optimum yarn quality and highest productivity.
  • No charge for North Carolina Textile Personnel; all others welcome to attend ($180 per person)

• NEW! Staple Fiber Finishes – March 25, 2020 (Tom Fiedler, Goulston) 8:30 am- 11:30 am
  • Come learn about the impact of staple fiber finish on spun yarn quality and efficiency. This new seminar, presented by Goulston, will cover staple finish fundamentals including finish chemistry, finish on fiber application sites, finish levels, finish selection for staple spinning systems, and finish issues.

For additional information on each event, please contact Suzette McHugh ([email protected] or 704-661-8787). 

• Most events free or subsidized for NC textile personnel; other textile personnel welcome to attend for a small fee. Subsidized fees/event are limited.
• Most events held at Textile Technology Center (Belmont, NC) or location listen on supplemental information. 

The Textile Technology Center is excited to release our Textile 101 classes for 2020!

We are excited to invite you to the IFAI Expo 2017 in New Orleans, LA. Along with hundreds of exhibitors and networking events, this year’s show will include the Advanced Textiles Conference Track. The Advanced Textiles Conference allows attendees to explore the following: medical textiles, military, smart fabric and testing. Please use follow the link below and follow instructions to receive free show floor admission!

Instructions:

• Go to the attendee-specific registration link  http://ifaiexpo.com/login/
• Enter the following VIP Code: EP351 at checkout

IFAI Expo 2015 dates announced! October 6-9, 2015. See and learn what are the latest advances in Specialty Fabrics, Advanced Textiles and Shade and Weather Technology. Come see us in Anaheim.