Textile Innovation and Sustainability Fund

Textile Innovation and Sustainability Fund is sponsored by U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). This fund provides funding for projects that promote innovation and sustainability in the textile industry. This aligns well with the focus on textiles and AI for textile innovation.

Textile Innovation Engine: Press Kit Welcome to the Press Kit for NSF Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina. This site is a tool to provide overall company information: brand mission, vision, our region of service, key personnel bios, etc. The Media Guide also includes approved logos with usage rules and well as high-resolution images and recent press coverage.

For additional information or media requests not covered in this Press Kit, please email Lizzie Warfield . Textiles touch nearly every aspect of daily life and form a crucial part of our daily lives and our economic stability and national preparedness. Strengthening this industry in the U.S. means more jobs, a resilient supply chain, and a competitive edge in the global market.

The textile industry underpins a wide variety of other industries, including fashion, automotive, aerospace, agriculture, and healthcare – and drives advanced circular materials and innovations, from high‑performance fabrics to regenerative fibers – with applications across: Sustainability & Resource Efficiency Infrastructure & Logistics Driving Jobs, Innovation, and Security Our industry supports over 500,000 jobs and contributes billions to the economy through manufacturing, exports, and technological advancements.

A strong U.S. textile sector ensures a reliable domestic supply of essential materials for military, medical, and emergency needs, reducing dependence on foreign imports.

Driving Jobs, Innovation, and Security Textile Innovation Engine Boilerplates The NSF Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina aims to renew America’s textile industry to lead in global technological innovation, drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and safeguard the fabric of our nation.

The Textile Innovation Engine is advancing the competitiveness of America’s textile industry through research, development, and commercialization of next-generation materials and processes to work toward extending the life of textile products, protecting our nation’s textile supply chain, and rebuilding the industry’s workforce for future needs.

The Textile Innovation Engine is powered by The Industrial Commons, a nonprofit with a strong reputation within the textile sector and other fields for being a hub of regional, rural innovation with deep local, national and sectoral knowledge and relationships.

Core partners include NC State University’s Wilson College of Textiles, Manufacturing Solutions Center at Catawba Community College, Gaston College Textile Technology Center, Western Piedmont Community College, NC IDEA Foundation, and North Carolina Department of Commerce. As a regional catalyst for global innovation, The Textile Innovation Engine collaborates with supply chain, market, education, and government leaders.

Together, we accelerate research, commercialization, manufacturing, and workforce readiness. Our ecosystem strengthens rural communities, creates quality jobs, and safeguards the fabric of our nation. We are committed to honoring our textile legacy and the people and places that move our industry forward.

To advance the competitiveness of America’s textile industry through research, development, and commercialization of next-generation materials and processes to extend the life of textile products, strengthen the U.S. textile supply chain, and rebuild the industry’s workforce for future needs.

Renew America’s textile industry to lead in global technological innovation, drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and safeguard the fabric of our nation. A regional catalyst for global innovation.

Our Role to Advance U.S. Textiles From concept to commercialization, the Textile Innovation Engine unites researchers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs to advance sustainable textiles and create new opportunities across the U.S. supply chain.

Our Role to Advance U.S. Textiles A Regional Catalyst for Global Innovation As a regional catalyst for global innovation, The Textile Innovation Engine ignites greater collaboration to accelerate – Cutting-edge materials research, from high-performance fabrics to renewable fibers. Commercialization of regenerative and circular business practices. Advanced manufacturing and workforce readiness training.

We partner with leaders across manufacturing, research, education, and government. Our ecosystem strengthens rural communities, creates quality jobs and drives supply chain resiliency. Together, we’re weaving innovation into America’s textile future, positioning the U.S. as a global leader in sustainable textile technology.

Our Unique Value to the Industry We leverage market demand and build creative consumer-driven solutions. We engage rural areas that have been left out of economic growth and innovation. We create locally rooted wealth and prioritize community impact.

We have deep and extensive existing partnerships. We bring circular solutions to scale from R&D to commercialization. The Textile Engine Advantage Discovering solutions to societal changes Partnering to accelerate Innovation We believe the future is woven — not in isolation, but in collaboration.

By uniting discovery with delivery, we turn breakthrough ideas into tangible impact. From molecule to market, we’re building the future of textiles. Driving innovation in sustainable and regenerative materials Research to real-world solutions The Textile Hemp Consortium The Textile Engine drives breakthrough solutions to reach commercial scale and deliver real-world impact.

The Circular Textile Consortium Expanding Training and Job Opportunities Addressing critical education and training gaps, we prepare workers for today’s advanced textiles manufacturing and automation technologies. Our workforce development resources open doors for workers to obtain higher skilled, higher paying jobs.

Textile Innovation Engine 10-Year Collective Impact sustainable production (20% of industry) Translation of Innovation The Textile Innovation Engine is driving impact and integration across Four Pillars: Research & Development, Translation-to-Market, Workforce Development, and Regional Engagement. Together, these focus areas will catalyze a resurgence of textile excellence and supply chain security in America.

Textile innovations, advanced materials and resilient manufacturing practices go hand in hand. When superior raw materials, yarn and fabric production, and assembly manufacturing are knitted closer together, supply chains can run more smoothly, reducing wait times and improving lead time efficiency that minimize waste, increase cost savings, and respond faster to market demand.

Our Work: Transforming America’s Textile Future Funding Textile Innovation The Textile Innovation Engine has created the nation’s first Fiber‑Based Innovations for Regenerative Technologies Research Fund (FIBR‑Tech) to drive high‑priority research and integrated research pathways that support innovations across technology readiness levels. Collaboration with our core partners brings together unmatched expertise and capabilities.

These resources include research labs, pilot production, and testing facilities to support scientific discovery. Through a technical Advisory Board, comprising a broad scope of industry representatives and trade organizations, The Textile Innovation Engine ensures FIBR‑Tech funding is directed to the most critical areas to support industry needs and solve barriers to innovation and domestic manufacturing.

Our research priorities include: Circular and natural materials development Biobased materials discovery Advanced materials for high‑tech and extreme environment applications Technologies for supply chain traceability and materials demand‑supply match Advancements in manufacturing, fiber identification, and automation Woven into the mission of The Textile Innovation Engine is the development of multidisciplinary “working groups” created to solve higher-level challenges and accomplish goals that exceed the capacity of any single company or organization.

Uniting organizations with diverse expertise, we bring together entities that specialize in different facets of an industry through a consortium model to catalyze new markets in textile circularity and textile hemp by identifying and solving gaps with innovation and technology, de-risking investments, and connecting the regional supply chain with global demand.

Improving U.S. Textile Circularity Collaborating together, supply chain members and demand side members work across competitive organizations to establish a post-consumer textile waste recycling system, transforming textile and garment waste into new products through various forms of supply chain activation and technologies.

Recapturing U.S. Industrial Hemp Fiber Leadership Working together, academia, industry experts, industry partners and strategic brand collaborators will seed regenerative farm practices & standards, consistent quality processing, fiber standards and spinning best practices to achieve the consistency, quality and reliable supply chain needed to scale.

Working together, academia, industry experts, industry partners and strategic brand collaborators will seed regenerative farm practices & standards, consistent quality processing, fiber standards and spinning best practices to achieve the consistency, quality and reliable supply chain needed to scale.

The U.S. generates over 17 million tons of textile waste annually*, presenting a significant opportunity to convert this waste into valuable, new, usable fiber. A circular approach to textiles is a clear path to reduced cost for yarn, when produced at scale, a resilient supply chain that balances the need for virgin materials. Building a Future-Ready Workforce.

A resurgence in advanced manufacturing, textile innovation, and automation technology offers renewed textile career pathways and economic growth opportunities.

The Textile Innovation Engine is developing and expanding education, career development, and training programs – including mentorships, internships, apprenticeships, micro-credentials, 2+2 graduate pathways – to increase advanced learning and participation for students and workers to transition into high-paying, sustainable careers, ensuring a skilled workforce that supports industry growth and innovation.

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Gaston Community College, Catawba Valley Community College, Western Piedmont Community College, and North Carolina State University, The Textile Innovation Enginee is bridging skill gaps and building a future-ready workforce. Networking For Progress. The Textile Innovation Engine is building a dynamic global ecosystem to drive textile innovation and industry growth.

Through strategic partnerships, targeted programming, and strong advocacy, it will accelerate innovation, reshape industry perception, and influence policy to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. By providing resources, capital, and infrastructure, The Textile Engine empowers brands, startups, and scaling companies to thrive in a modern, competitive textile sector.

The Textile Innovation Engine’s region of service encompasses all counties in North Carolina and stretches into the Appalachian regions of upstate South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southern VA. Grounded in the historical and still-significant “Textile Belt” region, The Textile Innovation Engine aims to disrupt and revolutionize the $96 billion textile industry.

While other regions of the U.S. have lost textile jobs, this region’s textile industry has stabilized. This region boasts the largest concentration of textile workers in the U.S., with over 27,000 workers and an additional 30,000 in adjacent industries, such as waste streams and furniture workers, spanning almost 2,000 companies.

Learn more about our Leadership, Expertise & Governance Teams Insights, partnerships, and progress shaping the future of textiles. Building a Better Production System for Textile Hemp From field to fiber. Learn why growing a healthy plant is only the beginning.

Building the Supply Chain Textile Hemp Needs to Scale Key takeaways from a panel discussion on scaling the textile hemp supply chain. Decoding Hemp Fiber through Pulp and Paper Fiber Science Satish Hodage on turning hemp into a spinnable fiber for America’s textile infrastructure. Building a Future for Textile Hemp Brown Family Farms on moving from tobacco to textile hemp.

Building the System Behind Textile Hemp Read how NC State’s David Suchoff is helping hemp work from field to factory. New NSF Engines Join the National Network See what a bigger national network means for textile innovation in North Carolina. The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina Is Growing Explore new job opportunities helping build the future of textile innovation.

The Textile Innovation Engine Presents Discover NC Textile Hemp An immersive look at how North Carolina is shaping the future of textile hemp. AI in fashion and textiles moves from promise to practical implementation Rachel Raineri, Research Project Manager at the Textile Innovation Engine explores how AI works inside real textile systems.

The Textile Innovation Engine Publishes R&D Projects Page 20 active use-inspired research initiatives, from CO₂-to-carbon fiber to hemp for wound healing, updated as the work advances. From Classroom to Career in the Modern Textile Industry Watch our video to see how 5,000 North Carolina students are discovering careers in an industry they didn’t know existed.

NSF Textile Innovation Engine Showcase at Inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA NSF Textile Innovation Engine Showcase at Inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA Morganton, NC At the first dedicated exhibition and conference in the US focused entirely on textile recycling, we’re honored to be hosting a dedicated showcase space to bring forward the pioneering organizations advancing textile circularity and recycling technologies.

You can find us at Booth … NSF Textile Innovation Engine Showcase at Inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA 2025 Year in Review: Rebuilding America’s Textile Future 2025 Year in Review: Rebuilding America’s Textile Future When the National Science Foundation invested in The Textile Innovation Engine in early 2024, it was a bet on what this region could become. Nearly two years later, the results are taking shape.

Research, industry, education, and community are moving toward a shared goal: rebuilding America’s textile … 2025 Year in Review: Rebuilding America’s Textile Future The Textile Innovation Engine Joins Social Venturers Podcast The Textile Innovation Engine Joins Social Venturers Podcast Molly Hemstreet, Co-Deputy CEO of the Textile Innovation Engine and co-founder of The Industrial Commons, joined Anne Wiper, CEO of the Textile Innovation Engine, for a conversation on the Social Venturers podcast about the work underway to rebuild America’s textile industry, and what it takes to make … The Textile Innovation Engine Joins Social Venturers Podcast Walmart Foundation Awards $350,000 Grant to Advance Sustainable Textile Research Walmart Foundation Awards $350,000 Grant to Advance Sustainable Textile Research North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine to Develop Life Cycle Assessments for Common Fibers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RALEIGH, NC – The Wilson College of Textiles and the North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine (The Textile Innovation Engine) have received a $350,000 grant from … Walmart Foundation Awards $350,000 Grant to Advance Sustainable Textile Research North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine Announces Call for Proposals for 2025 FIBR-Tech Research Fund North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine Announces Call for Proposals for 2025 FIBR-Tech Research Fund Morganton, NC The North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine (The Textile Engine), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is pleased to announce the 2025 Fiber-Based Innovations for Regenerative Technologies (FIBR-Tech) Emergent Research Fund.

The Textile Engine is … North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine Announces Call for Proposals for 2025 FIBR-Tech Research Fund Molly Hemstreet Delivers TED Talk on Rebuilding the Working Class Molly Hemstreet Delivers TED Talk on Rebuilding the Working Class Molly Hemstreet, Co-Deputy CEO of the Textile Innovation Engine and co-founder of The Industrial Commons, delivered a TED talk, A Bold Idea to Rebuild the Working Class, exploring how communities can build lasting economic strength by rooting wealth locally – keeping jobs, ownership, and opportunity … Molly Hemstreet Delivers TED Talk on Rebuilding the Working Class Discoveries, Innovations, and Careers in Textiles from Our Region Discoveries, Innovations, and Careers in Textiles from Our Region Supplemental Curriculum Resources for FA07 Fashion and Textiles 1 – Fundamentals The North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine (The Textile Innovation Engine) is proud to partner withNorth Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) to provide supplemental curriculum resources for North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences … Discoveries, Innovations, and Careers in Textiles from Our Region The NSF Textile Innovation Engine logo is the primary identifier for our brand.

It captures our name, mission, and legacy. When utilizing the identity it is imperative that it is shown in its entirety as you see below. Logo Scaling & Clear Space The logo has been crafted to read well, even at small sizes.

There is no limit at large scale, but be careful at smaller sizes. If legibility is an issue, it’s too small. 😉 Please don’t crowd the logo.

When placing other elements nearby, ensure minimum clear space. The clear space is calculated using the Icon within the logo itself. Clear space should be the percentage of the scale shown above.

The assets shown below are approved for media and press usage. To access please click the download button . Any other visual image or video requests should be submitted through the contact page .

Informational Brochure/1-Sheet Additional information may be found in our 1-Sheet Brochure that is available for download . Any other visual image or video requests should be submitted through our contact page . The Textile Innovation Engine Powered by The Industrial Commons Research updates, project news and opportunities from the Engine, straight to your inbox.

The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina transforms and safeguards the fabric of our nation. High School Textile Curriculum This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Accessibility • Privacy • Terms