Protection by Design

North Carolina has the sixth largest migrant worker population in the nation; conservative estimates number these farmworkers and their dependents at 150,000 per growing season. Migrant laborers face on-the-job hazards like UV radiation, heatstroke and pesticide poisoning, yet they work long days in clothing ill-suited for the fields. New Fashion and Textile Design graduate Ashley Maurice challenged herself to help these workers through a project she calls Protégete, Spanish for “protect yourself,” and Textile Technology major Ngoc Nguyen joined the team to search for a protective fabric finish for these garments.

Sustainability School

In the spring of 2018, graduate students taught by Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management professor Dr. Karen K. Leonas partnered with industry leaders from American & Efird and The Sustainability Consortium to work on pressing sustainability concerns in the textile field. Through two separate projects, graduate students in TTM 591 sought solutions to problems in the areas of dyes and chemicals, packaging sustainability, recycling and wastewater — and learned along the way that although these challenges are complex and industry-wide, small groups of enthusiastic minds can make great strides toward change.

B.S. Fashion and Textile Design

B.S. Fashion and Textile Management

Master of Science in Textiles

Master of Textiles in Textiles

Ph.D. Fiber and Polymer Science

Ph.D. Textile Technology Management