Young Alumni

Oct 27, 2017

Pack Plaid: How NC State’s Official Tartan Came to Be

Kathleen Kelly ‘14 was in her first semester of graduate school at the College of Textiles when she designed the winning entry in NC State’s Pack Plaid contest. Her design, a sophisticated pattern in black, dark gray, red and white, is now listed as the “North Carolina State University -- Pack Plaid” in the Scottish Registry of Deeds, the official Scottish register of tartans. 

Oct 10, 2017

Fourth Generation Alumna Carves her own Path

Sara Thomas, B.S., Fashion and Textile Management ’15, has cotton woven into her genes. She is the fourth generation of the Thomas family to graduate from the College of Textiles. Her great-grandfather, Mason P. Thomas, arrived on NC State’s campus in 1919 and every generation of her family since has followed in his footsteps. However, just as the textile industry has shifted focus across the decades, each member of the Thomas family has carved out his or her unique path. 

Sep 28, 2017

Heritage is the Hallmark of FTD Alumna’s Clothing Line

Fashion and Textile Design alumna Lisbeth Arias celebrates her heritage with Descalza, a fashion she began as an undergraduate. She recently launched the collection of scarves, ties and skirts via a successful Kickstarter campaign. 

Sep 22, 2017

Textiles Alumna Returns Home to Complete Master’s Degree Online

NC State College of Textiles Alumna Jessica Whalen knew the online Master of Textiles degree was right for her after earning her bachelor’s degree at NC State. 

Sep 19, 2017

Economical Engineering: Adam Barksdale ’16 at Nissan

Read about College of Textiles alumnus Adam Barksdale '16, design engineer at Nissan. 

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. 

Aug 24, 2017

Passion for Sustainability Inspires Alum’s New Venture

Recent Fashion and Textile Design graduate Grace Brian found inspiration at home and abroad to connect cultures and bring together communities through artisan made goods. Her new online store Care+Co Market will offer consumers “high-quality, stylish products that are intended to be used for a lifetime.” 

Aug 22, 2017

TE Alumna Emily McGuinness ’16 Pursues Her Ph.D.

NC State double alumna and Textiles graduate Emily McGuinness '16 is earning her Ph.D. and working toward her goal of teaching at the university level. A National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow, she was also offered a fellowship with the National Science Foundation. 

Aug 16, 2017

From Fashion to Function

NC State College of Textiles alumna Kelly Bogan '16 celebrates first anniversary as textile design engineer at software giant Microsoft, taking her career from fashion to function. 

Aug 4, 2017

Cheryl Coley Makes Her Mark

For NC State double alumna and College of Textiles graduate Cheryl Coley, an internship not only filled a spot on her resume, but also led to a full-time position with a company she admires. After her graduation in 2016 (M.A. Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering), she went to work as a quality engineer for Technimark, an Asheboro, N.C.-based injection-molding company that designs and manufactures product for the consumer packaging, healthcare and industrial markets.