David McAlister is the Founder and Chief Textile Technologist at Texoligy, a consultancy specializing in innovation, engineering, and training. Research and development have been at the center of his 38+ year career built on a strong grounding in manufacturing with the likes of Mount Vernon Mills and Parkdale Mills. David has led the past research efforts at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Cotton Quality Research Unit, working with new varieties and leading commercial scale variety trials to understand the relationships between field, fiber, and mill. Until most recently, he was responsible for the global management of the fiber testing product line for Uster Technology including new product development and marketing.
Author: STRC Admin
AI and the Textile Genome: Mapping Material Behavior for Predictable Performance
Every experienced textile professional knows that two bales with identical test results can behave completely differently on the spinning frame, in the dye bath, or in the finished garment. The reason is that our standard fiber measurements, while useful, have never told the whole story. And until recently, we lacked the tools to tell it.
Keynote: Navigating the Forces Shaping our Industry
Nathan Fisher Key Account Executive with Daikin America, Inc. and President of the Southern Textile Association (STA), will start off the 2026 Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) with the Keynote Address.
Nathan Fisher
Nathan is a Key Account Executive with Daikin America, Inc. and a respected leader in the textile industry, bringing more than 25 years of experience spanning textile chemistry, finishing operations, laboratory analysis, and technical sales. A graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Textile Chemistry, Nathan has built his career from the plant floor and lab to senior commercial leadership roles.
Alejandro “Alex” Franco
Alejandro “Alex” Franco is Vice President of PSP Marketing Inc, a manufacturing representative organization serving leading global textile machinery suppliers including Monforts GmbH, Fong’s National Engineering Company, Goller GmbH, Electro-Jet, Escarré Automation, Sieger Automation, and TVE Escale.
THREAD-X: Leveraging AI & AR Technology to Accelerate Workforce Training
Across the US, industries are navigating a historic demographic shift often referred to as the “Silver Tsunami”. It is estimated that by 2030, approximately 2.1 million jobs could go unfilled across the manufacturing sector because of a lack of skilled applicants. This transition is creating a massive knowledge transfer gap, where institutional expertise is leaving faster than it can be passed on or replaced.
Tanya Wade
Tanya Wade is the Textile Resource Lab and THREAD-X Project Manager at the Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC), as well as the Sewn Goods Workshop Instructor for the Carolina Textile District (CTD). With over 13 years at the MSC, Tanya has worked closely with entrepreneurs, brands and manufacturers to support domestic production, leading educational workshops, factory tours, and countless sourcing interactions.
Tricia Carey
Tricia Carey is the Chief Commercial Officer at Avalo, an ag-tech innovator accelerating crop evolution through AI to produce climate-resilient, low-carbon cotton. With a career rooted in sustainable innovation, Tricia has been instrumental in advancing fiber solutions by launching TENCEL™ globally with Lenzing and commercializing CIRCULOSE® at Renewcell.
Buddy Garrett
Buddy Garrett is Associate Director, Textile Chemistry Research at Cotton Incorporated. In this role, Buddy oversees the Color Services Laboratory, Garment Wet Processing Laboratory, and Digital Printing Laboratory. As well, he assists in preparation and dyeing related research and development along with troubleshooting dyeing related issues and research involving garment performance finishing applications. Prior to […]
Innovations in Dyeing and Coloration
The amount of water, energy, and harmful chemicals consumed during conventional dyeing through traditional methods over the past century has been tremendous, and in many countries, water has become a very precious and limited resource. The textile industry continues to face several challenges such as an increasing shortage of natural resources such as water and energy, higher prices and costs related to raw materials and these natural resources, increasing regulatory and environmental pressure, as well as increasing expectations of social responsibility and business compliance. In recent years, efforts have been made to reduce the amount of water, energy, and chemicals used.
