The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina

There is so much great work happening to build the circular economy in textiles. Working to build the textile industry and jobs in the US, step by step, from our home base in North Carolina. Anne Wiper Molly Hemstreet Melissa Sharp Thanks for giving us an opportunity to share our work. The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina

🧵 PI Highlight: Zoe Newman Hezrony 🌍 What motivates you to do what you do? Why do you care about your research area? 👉 I am passionate about merging sustainability with advanced textile technology, and driven by the potential to reduce waste through whole garment knitting. This research can have a large impact on both the industry and the planet. As part of The Textile Innovation Engine, Zoe is excited by the challenge of applying recycled yarns in high-tech applications—a critical step toward building a circular future for textiles. 🔬 Current Project (funded in part by The Textile Engine): Whole Garment Knitting with Recycled Yarns ✨ Primary Goal: To validate the development of products with recycled yarns on a whole garment knitting machine and ensure they are economically feasible, scalable, and sustainable. Why it matters: For the textile industry: Unlocks new ways to reduce waste with seamless, zero-waste knitting processes. For adjacent industries: Offers a model for aligning sustainable materials with advanced manufacturing in automotive, furniture, and beyond. For the general public: Brings safer, more sustainable garments with less micro-plastic pollution and greater comfort for everyday wear. For policy & governance: Supports sustainable manufacturing policies, zero-waste legislation, and greater material security. Zoe’s work proves that sustainability and technology don’t just coexist—they amplify each other. 💡 👏 Join us in celebrating her contributions by leaving a ♻️ in the comments! #TheIndustrialCommons #NCStateUniversity #WilsonCollegeofTextiles #TextileInnovationEngine #Innovation #ReduceWaste

Our Deputy-CEO, Molly Hemstreet!

Do you work with electronic textiles, wearable tech or conductive polymers? Does your work involve sustainable fabrics, textile recycling or building a circular supply chain? If so, NC State Wilson College of Textiles Ph.D. Candidate, Erin Tillery, invites you to take part in a research survey. Whether you’re in industry, academia, a non-profit, a government lab, still in school or bringing decades of experience to the field, your perspective matters. 🔒 All responses are confidential and all analysis is anonymous, but the potential impact is significant. ⏳ The survey will close Dec. 1! We’re excited to hear from you! 🔗 Survey link: https://lnkd.in/eZqakF_j The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina #WearableTechnology #ElectronicTextiles #ConductivePolymers #CircularSupplyChain

🌱 Spotlight on Innovation: Dr. Ericka Ford 🌱 At The Textile Engine, we’re proud to highlight the groundbreaking work of our Principal Investigator, Dr. Ericka Ford, whose research is reshaping the future of textiles. 🔬 Her motivation: “I love working with industry to solve real-life challenges with the goal of making products that people will use. This research also gives students the opportunity to see how their learning and training have equipped them to solve tomorrow’s grand challenges.” 🧵 Her project: Dr. Ford leads research into the manufacture of bio-based yarns—turning plant-derived polymers into strong, sustainable fibers without the use of toxic chemicals. These bioderived fibers can not only become the textiles of tomorrow, but also return to nature at the end of their life cycle. 🌍 Her impact: For the textile industry: A pathway to sustainable fabrics, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. For adjacent industries: Collaboration opportunities with biochem and synthetic biology innovators, spinning bioplastics into usable fibers. For consumers: Safer, biodegradable products that align with growing demands for sustainability. For government and policy: Advancing domestic research capacity to maintain global competitiveness in textile innovation. 💡 Dr. Ford describes The Textile Engine as “bringing academics, industry, and government stakeholders to the table… actually coming together to listen to one another and look for ways to complement each other.” We are proud to support her vision and the meaningful advances her team is making toward a circular, bio-based future. 🌿 #Sustainability #TextileInnovation #BioBasedMaterials #TheTextileEngine #STEM #TheIndustrialCommons #NCStateUniversity #WilsonCollegeofTextiles

🌱 Spotlight on Innovation: Dr. Raoul Farer 🌱 We’re proud to highlight one of our Principal Investigators, Dr. Raoul Farer, whose work is helping shape the future of sustainable textiles. Dr. Farer is leading the project Air-laid Hemp Nonwovens for Industrial Applications, exploring how hemp—an abundant, locally grown natural fiber in North Carolina—can replace synthetics and expand its role in the market. 👉 Why hemp? It’s strong, versatile, and renewable. It offers a natural solution to reduce microplastics. It has the potential to lower manufacturing costs and boost competitiveness in nonwovens. His research goes beyond the lab: For industry: More sustainable, cost-effective nonwoven products. For agriculture: Growth opportunities for hemp farming and related jobs. For consumers: Safer, natural alternatives to synthetic fibers. For policymakers: Alignment with sustainability initiatives and local economic development. Dr. Farer shares, “It’s an honor to be part of The Textile Engine community. I look forward to engaging with everyone and learning more about how we can make meaningful impacts across textiles, nonwovens, and related industries.” We’re excited to see how his work advances innovation, sustainability, and opportunity—locally and beyond. #Sustainability #Innovation #HempTextiles #Nonwovens #TextileIndustry #TheTextileEngine #TheIndustrialCommons #NonWovenInstitute #NCState #WilsonCollegeofTextiles

🌟 Research Spotlight: Jasmine Cox-Wade, Principal Investigator 🌟 At The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina, our number one motivation is helping the industry move forward—and leaders like Jasmine Cox-Wade, PI, are at the forefront of this mission. 🔹 What drives Jasmine? A deep commitment to sustainability and collaboration. With sustainability now a global issue, she focuses on solving client challenges such as overcoming process barriers for sustainable fibers. 🔹 Her research focus Jasmine is pioneering biodegradability testing at scale, developing clear protocols to evaluate the viability of mechanically recycled and other circular materials. 🔹 Why this matters For the textile industry: Jasmine’s work helps bridge the gap between R&D and commercialization, accelerating the path from idea to impact. For adjacent industries: It provides clear, science-backed methods for incorporating green materials into diverse product lines—from nonwovens to plastics and beyond. ✨ For Jasmine, being part of The Textile Engine means collaboration and partnership—two forces that drive meaningful innovation. We’re proud to spotlight Jasmine’s leadership and her role in shaping the future of sustainable textiles. 💡 Textile Technology Center at Gaston College The Industrial Commons #Sustainability #TextileInnovation #CircularEconomy #Biodegradability #Leadership #Research #TheIndustrialCommons #GastonCollege #TextileTechnologyCenter

🌟 Introducing our PI Highlight Series 🌟 At the Textile Innovation Engine, we believe innovation starts with people—the researchers, makers, and visionaries who are reimagining what textiles can do for our world. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from our Principal Investigators (PIs)—the leaders driving breakthroughs in sustainability, circularity, smart textiles, and beyond. Each highlight will give you a closer look at: ✨ What motivates their work ✨ The impact their research has on industry and society ✨ How their discoveries help build a more sustainable, resilient future By spotlighting our PIs, we hope to share not just what The Textile Innovation Engine does, but also why it matters—for industry, for communities, and for future generations. 🌍 Stay tuned as we celebrate the people behind the projects—and the innovations shaping the future of textiles. #Sustainability #TextileInnovation #BioBasedMaterials #TheTextileEngine #STEM #TheIndustrialCommons #NCStateUniversity #WilsonCollegeofTextiles

Innovation doesn’t have to mean leaving communities behind. Our very own TED Fellow, Molly Hemstreet, shows how rural Appalachia is turning textile waste into opportunity—and workers into innovators. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/dsexeU8u

Just returned from the NIHC Global Hemp Fiber Summit at NC State in Raleigh.  The energy and innovation on display were truly exceptional. We were delighted to be a presenting sponsor of this landmark event, which brought together top minds, technologies, and investment in the future of hemp fiber and textiles. Highlights included: A great visit to one of the NC State hemp research farms, led by Dr. David Suchoff, showcasing his team’s latest research results in improving textile hemp yield and quality. Innovations in hemp textile development from Dr. Andre West and Dr. Rong Yin, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable fibers. The rising NC infrastructure for hemp fiber processing, with a great facility tour and speaker series at Biophil Natural Fibers, in Lumberton, NC. Big thank you to David Camby and Marcel Dabdoub And a standout presentation on innovative clean chemistry degumming from SATISH H. of YUJ LABS LLC. And our brand panel that represented the needs of the brand in this up-and-coming supernatural fiber. Thank you to Carhartt, Pact, and Mark D'Sa for sharing the challenges and optimism for the role of hemp in brand product lines. The momentum in hemp textiles is real—and growing. The Textile Innovation Engine of North Carolina is proud to be fueling this transformation, accelerating innovation and industry growth from farm to fiber and lab to market. NC State Wilson College of Textiles David Suchoff Andre West Rong Yin David Camby YUJ LABS LLC The Industrial Commons Pact Carhartt Sue Jesch Mark D'Sa 🌞 Rachel Raineri Anne Wiper