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.
Author: STRC Admin
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.
STRC charts bold course for textile sustainability, innovation
STRC President Don AlexanderPhoto by Devin Steele MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) here last month brought together industry leaders to explore critical challenges facing textile manufacturing, with a central theme of “Transforming Textiles, Preserving the Future.” Founded in 1961, the STRC provides a forum for networking and exchange of science-based […]
Fabian Walda
Fabian Walda is a textile engineer by profession with over a decade of experience in sustainability standard setting at Bluesign, where he contributed to building tools and criteria for safer and more sustainable chemistry and responsible industries. He recently joined the RUDOLF Group to advance sustainability from a corporate and implementation-driven perspective.
ECODESIGN – A Science-Based Approach
While circularity has become a dominant framework in the textile industry it often falls short in practice. A promise to close loops, reduce waste, and reconcile production with environmental limits. It offers the comforting idea that consumption can continue, just differently. Yet after years as a global megatrend, the gap between vision and reality remains wide. Action has lagged, and impact has fallen short.
Ben Mead
Ben Mead serves as the Managing Director of Hohenstein Institute America. In this role, he is the company’s liaison with industry collaborations, government agencies and trade associations, while leading a team spread over North and Latin America. He also oversees OEKO-TEX® responsibilities for the U.S.
Dr. Gunther Duschek
Dr. Gunther Duschek is the Managing Director as the CTOO of RUDOLF, which has a global workforce of 2,000 employees across 50 locations. With over 25 years of experience in the
field of R&D in textile auxiliaries, Dr. Duschek has played a pivotal role in propelling innovation within the textile industry. He holds a diploma in chemistry and a doctorate in natural sciences,
having completed his studies at the University of Ulm and his doctoral research on fluorocarbons at Clariant, Basel.
