National Council of Textile Organizations
 
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A national trade group meeting the needs of the fiber, yarn, fabric and textile supplier sector
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A national trade group meeting the needs of the fiber, yarn, fabric and textile supplier sector
NCTO Washington - Office
910 17th Street, NW, Suite 1020
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 822-8028
Fax: (202) 822-8029
NCTO North Carolina -  Office
469 Hospital Drive, Suite C
Gastonia, NC 28054
Phone: (704) 824-3522
Fax: (704) 671-2366

U.S. Textile Industry

Overview

The U.S. textile industry, its domestic suppliers and customers are comprised of the following: the textile industry; suppliers in the cotton, wool, and man-made fiber sectors; the U.S. textile machinery and textile chemical industries; and our customers in the U.S. apparel industry.  

The U.S. textile industry, suppliers and our customers are an important component of the U.S. economy and are found in every region of the country.  The industry provides much needed jobs in rural areas and has functioned as a springboard for workers out of poverty into good paying jobs for generations.  The industry is also a key contributor to our national defense and supplies over 8,000 products a year to our men and women in uniform. 

Over the past 30 years, the industry has become a major factor in hi-tech innovation.  Textile products are now major components in everything from heart valves and stents to aircraft bodies and advanced body armor.  In fact, in 2009 the textile sector alone contributed $29.3 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.  The U.S. textile industry consumed nearly 1.7 billion pounds of U.S. grown cotton in 2010. 

Investment

The U.S. textile industry invested more than $15 billion from 2001-2009.  This has allowed the U.S. industry to increase productivity gains that have surpassed all other sectors.  Investment has been crucial for the global competitiveness of the U.S. industry.  The U.S. textile industry is export intensive, and is the third largest textile exporter in the world.

Exports

The U.S. textile industry is the third largest textile exporter in the world.  The industry primarily exports yarns and fabrics.  Textile exports in 2010 totaled over $15 billion dollars.  The industry exports to more than 50 countries, including 16 with export markets that purchase in excess of $100 million.

Role of Mills in Small Towns and Rural Communities

U.S. textile plants are located primarily in small rural communities in the Southeast and oftentimes provide a major source of tax revenue and employment for the small towns and cities surrounding the textile mill.  Textile mill jobs are highly sought after in their communities, with pay substantially higher than average wages for jobs in the service and retail industry. In 2010, textile workers on average earned 155% more than clothing store workers ($559 a week vs. $219).  Benefits are better too, and include health care as well as retirement savings opportunities.   

Many U.S. textile companies provide unrelated yet important services to their communities.  For example: several companies provide college scholarships to the children of employees and in some cases to those in the local communities; fund recreation centers; sports teams; provide lighting in downtown areas, and fund holiday and seasonal community events. Therefore, when a textile mill downsizes or closes its doors altogether, the entire community feels the ramifications. 

Employment

The combined U.S. textile industry -- including cotton and man-made fiber producers, textile mills, apparel plants and textile machinery producers -- is a large employer in the United States. Currently there are nearly 600,000 workers employed by the industry. The breakdown is textile mills 124,000; textile product mills 123,000; apparel 165,000; cotton 116,275; and man-made fiber 26,751.

Supporting the U.S. Military

The U.S. military purchases over 8,000 different textile products each year.  Textiles are vital for uniforms, parachutes, tents, and a variety of other products that keep our service members safe.  In times of conflict and peace, the U.S. textile industry is reliable for its fast response and high quality products and materials supplied to all branches of the U.S. military.  Most importantly, in time of need, U.S. manufacturers are the most secure source for our military rather than relying on foreign manufacturers for uniforms and equipment/gear made from textiles.

The United States Armed Forces' Defense Supply Center - Philadelphia, the purchasing divisions for the Department of Defense, estimates that over 8,000 different textile items are purchased annually for use by the U.S. military, and this figure actually rises to over 30,000 line items when individual sizes are factored into the item mix.  The U.S. textile industry provides over $2 billion a year in vital equipment for our armed forces.  As domestic suppliers, U.S. textile mills provide the highest quality goods on a timetable that our armed forces demand.

Innovation & Education      

The colleges and universities are at the epicenter for innovation and technological advancement of the domestic industry.  Innovative discovery has transformed this industry from the seventeenth century era of the handloom to the twenty-first century era of polyester- textile heart valve prosthesis and nanotube textile body armor. 

Below there are listings of leading colleges and universities that offer textile engineering programs while conducting cutting edge research to further advance the industry.  While the list is not exhaustive, NCTO has worked to compile a list of the leading universities in textiles and applied materials.

 [TC]2 - Textile / Clothing Technology Corporation

Auburn University, Auburn AL

Clemson University, Clemson SC

Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Philadelphia University, Philadelphia PA

University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth

Textile Universities in the U.S.A.  

Textile Connect

Textile Connect is a holistic, knowledge-intensive, innovative, global, collaborative, and flexible website designed to connect textile complex companies, events, resources, and product and market information, from various government, industry, and academic sources to the North and South Carolina textile complex.

NCTO Members

Key Facts about the U.S. Textile Industry

National Council of Textile Organizations
 

National Council of Textile Organizations
 
    

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