Entrepreneurship

$Flex Factory rendering image$

Jan 13, 2025

Cutting-Edge Flex Factory to Honor Textile Titan, W. Duke Kimbrell ’49

Textile innovation and entrepreneurship at NC State's Wilson College of Textiles will reach unprecedented heights with the newly named W. Duke Kimbrell Flex Factory.

$Brian McMurray$

Dec 1, 2022

His Commitment to His Alma Mater Earns Brian McMurray NC State’s Distinguished Alumni Award

Known as a titan within the textile industry and a generous supporter of the Wilson College of Textiles, Brian McMurray ’86 was recognized on Nov. 3 as the college’s recipient of an NC State 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.

$Ritika Burman and Jessica Singleton$

Feb 8, 2021

Wilson College of Textiles Honors Alumnae with New Distinguished Young Alumni Award

In a time when virtual Zoom meetings can blur together, the Wilson College of Textiles used the element of surprise in naming Ritika Burman ’15 and Jessica Singleton ’09 recipients of the inaugural Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

$Ritika on runway$

Aug 11, 2020

Student Entrepreneur Brings South Asian Fashions to Rent the Runway

Fashion and textile management student Ritika Shamdasani and her fashion company, Sani, have launched into the national spotlight after being featured on Rent the Runway.

Mar 14, 2019

Bright Light: Alumnus and Entrepreneur Jeremy Wall

Some ideas are born with a light bulb moment; Jeremy Wall’s idea was the result of a life and death moment. The Wilson College of Textiles alumnus (FTM ‘14) was biking across campus one evening during his junior year when he was nearly hit by a car. He set to work on a project that ultimately became Lumenus, a start-up company that pairs LED light arrays with an app to help bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians be easily seen in low light situations.

Dec 3, 2018

Fit Tech + Fashion = Luxor + Finch

The future of fashion is fit technology, and Wilson College of Textiles alumna Jessica Couch '10 is leading the revolution as founder of Luxor + Finch -- a fit technology consulting firm that works with the best in the business as they prepare for the brave new world of fashion that actually fits.

Nov 29, 2018

Perfect Timing

Meet Wilson College of Textiles alumna Jasmine Flood (TT '12), successful entrepreneur and owner of accessory and stationery boutique Riada Adair.

Nov 26, 2018

Entrepreneur en Vogue

Meet Wilson College of Textiles alumna Germanee Gerald, a 2013 graduate of the Fashion and Textile Management program who recently left a successful corporate career to focus full time on her styling business, GG+Co. Styling Firm.

Sep 5, 2017

Kayla Brewer ‘14 Opens Voda Boutique Downtown

College of Textiles alumna Kayla Brewer always knew her future was fashion. From the moment she decided she wanted to own a clothing store, each class she took and every position she worked was part of a larger strategy. Now, just three years after graduation, she has opened Voda, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique in downtown Raleigh.

May 17, 2016

Textile Technology Alum’s Apparel Company Inspired by Charleston

Written by Miranda Bunnis NC state alumna Ashley Worrall took a leap of faith recently when she started Borough, an online woman’s dress brand inspired by Southern culture. While the launch of the business owned by Worrall and her husband, Jeff Worrall, is new, the dream has been alive for some time. “I launched this year, but…