By Susan Fandel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As lead developer for VF Corporation\u2019s<\/a> Global Innovation Center, NC State<\/a> Wilson College of Textiles<\/a> double alumnus Colin Holloway works toward one goal: developing breakthrough technologies for new products. It\u2019s a role that Holloway embraces as he collaborates with strategists, project managers, scientists, testing engineers and designers at VF\u2019s Global Footwear Innovation Center in Dover, N.H. — one of the company\u2019s three Global Innovation Centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holloway works closely with cross-functional teams from some of the 20-plus brands under the VF umbrella, including Vans<\/a>, Timberland<\/a> and The North Face<\/a>. He leads the company\u2019s Global Innovation engine in the research, development and delivery of dynamic materials solutions for footwear and apparel — shepherding new products from initial idea to commercialization and production — and travels the world in support of this mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy role within VF has allowed me to travel to universities, trade shows, symposiums, technology partner sites and manufacturing facilities, as well as to our brand headquarters, all of which continue to enhance my level of expertise,\u201d he said. \u201cThe ability to travel both domestically and abroad has provided me with continued learning opportunities which positively impact our innovation team as well as VF\u2019s brands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year, he was proud to serve as a mentor for one of his alma mater\u2019s senior design<\/a> project teams — the first collaboration between the VF Global Innovation Center (GIC) and the Wilson College of Textiles. He led the team, comprised of student partners Ted Meyers, Eric Kaylor and Monique Floyd, on their project<\/a> to develop a footwear focused material which would provide adaptive performance in a range of external environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy experience in leading this project was amazing,\u201d he said. \u201cThe most impactful thing for both the students and our GIC team was that we were able to go through the entire footwear creation process, from concept to finished shoe. This project allowed the students to interface with each cross-functional aspect of our team, including materials, design, product development, and performance testing; this culminated with multiple finished footwear samples that were created and presented with their final presentation as part of a planned visit for the team up to our Innovation Center in New Hampshire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I felt — and still feel — that due to my experience within the College, I have the ability to collaborate with or for a number of brands and industries, which is a powerful feeling.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Holloway believes that a Wilson College of Textiles partnership with a leading company in the industry helps develop a better prepared workforce, harnesses the power of \u201cbright, forward-thinking students\u201d and provides employees and students with access to cutting-edge laboratories on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLong term, the ability to mentor students either via the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science<\/a> program, campus visits, or via social media is something that I will continue to do on a regular basis,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m always happy to give students insight into my experiences thus far, but the most important thing to me is that they understand that there are really no limitations regarding opportunities when you leave the Wilson College of Textiles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to working with students directly, Holloway looks forward to having an impact as a member of an advisory board that will help steer the newly formed partnership<\/a> between VF Corporation and NC State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holloway earned both his bachelor\u2019s degree in Textile Technology<\/a> (2007) and his Master of Textiles<\/a> degree (2009) from the NC State Wilson College of Textiles — a decision he called, \u201cone of the best things I\u2019ve done, both personally and professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a high school student, he attended a presentation by a representative from the Wilson College of Textiles and was impressed to learn how intertwined textiles are with daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI felt — and still feel — that due to my experience within the College, I have the ability to collaborate with or for a number of brands and industries, which is a powerful feeling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an undergraduate, he interned at Cotton Incorporated<\/a> in Cary, N.C. The internship\u2019s hands-on technical experience helped hone his problem-solving skills and apply his education to real-world problems. A graduate assistantship with COT professor Dr. Pam Banks-Lee<\/a> brought expanded opportunities, including the chance to work with undergraduate students, and a new view to career opportunities in textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to joining VF, Holloway worked with companies and in roles across the apparel and footwear industry that prepared him well for his current position. He was a materials manager for Footwear at Under Armour<\/a>, fabric developer for Oakley<\/a>, product development and sourcing specialist for Abercrombie and Fitch<\/a>, and director of innovation research for Fruit of the Loom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong combination of education and professional experience means that Holloway brings a thorough understanding of textiles, technology and innovation to his current position. But his role also influences him in a number of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m constantly exposed to forward thinking individuals within our organization as well as through relationships that extend beyond the walls of VF,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing able to converse with internal team members and external partners that are constantly thinking about future trends, technologies and their impact always keeps me looking ahead. My inspiration comes from these types of \u2018futurists\u2019 and helps me to think critically about the goals of the team I\u2019m a part of as well as brands that we partner with to deliver game changing products to our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holloway also shared some recent, exciting personal news. He and his wife Crystal, herself a Wilson College of Textiles double alumna, welcomed their second child in August 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI owe everything to NC State, particularly the Wilson College of Textiles,\u201d he said. \u201cCrystal and I look forward to telling our boys, Mason and Liam, how special of a place the College is to us and maybe persuade them to become part of the Wolfpack!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n By Susan Fandel<\/p>\n\n\n\n As lead developer for VF Corporation\u2019s<\/a> Global Innovation Center, NC State<\/a> Wilson College of Textiles<\/a> double alumnus Colin Holloway works toward one goal: developing breakthrough technologies for new products. It\u2019s a role that Holloway embraces as he collaborates with strategists, project managers, scientists, testing engineers and designers at VF\u2019s Global Footwear Innovation Center in Dover, N.H. -- one of the company\u2019s three Global Innovation Centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holloway works closely with cross-functional teams from some of the 20-plus brands under the VF umbrella, including Vans<\/a>, Timberland<\/a> and The North Face<\/a>. He leads the company\u2019s Global Innovation engine in the research, development and delivery of dynamic materials solutions for footwear and apparel -- shepherding new products from initial idea to commercialization and production -- and travels the world in support of this mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy role within VF has allowed me to travel to universities, trade shows, symposiums, technology partner sites and manufacturing facilities, as well as to our brand headquarters, all of which continue to enhance my level of expertise,\u201d he said. \u201cThe ability to travel both domestically and abroad has provided me with continued learning opportunities which positively impact our innovation team as well as VF\u2019s brands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year, he was proud to serve as a mentor for one of his alma mater\u2019s senior design<\/a> project teams -- the first collaboration between the VF Global Innovation Center (GIC) and the Wilson College of Textiles. He led the team, comprised of student partners Ted Meyers, Eric Kaylor and Monique Floyd, on their project<\/a> to develop a footwear focused material which would provide adaptive performance in a range of external environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy experience in leading this project was amazing,\u201d he said. \u201cThe most impactful thing for both the students and our GIC team was that we were able to go through the entire footwear creation process, from concept to finished shoe. This project allowed the students to interface with each cross-functional aspect of our team, including materials, design, product development, and performance testing; this culminated with multiple finished footwear samples that were created and presented with their final presentation as part of a planned visit for the team up to our Innovation Center in New Hampshire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I felt -- and still feel -- that due to my experience within the College, I have the ability to collaborate with or for a number of brands and industries, which is a powerful feeling.<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Holloway believes that a Wilson College of Textiles partnership with a leading company in the industry helps develop a better prepared workforce, harnesses the power of \u201cbright, forward-thinking students\u201d and provides employees and students with access to cutting-edge laboratories on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLong term, the ability to mentor students either via the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science<\/a> program, campus visits, or via social media is something that I will continue to do on a regular basis,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m always happy to give students insight into my experiences thus far, but the most important thing to me is that they understand that there are really no limitations regarding opportunities when you leave the Wilson College of Textiles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to working with students directly, Holloway looks forward to having an impact as a member of an advisory board that will help steer the newly formed partnership<\/a> between VF Corporation and NC State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holloway earned both his bachelor\u2019s degree in Textile Technology<\/a> (2007) and his Master of Textiles<\/a> degree (2009) from the NC State Wilson College of Textiles -- a decision he called, \u201cone of the best things I\u2019ve done, both personally and professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a high school student, he attended a presentation by a representative from the Wilson College of Textiles and was impressed to learn how intertwined textiles are with daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI felt -- and still feel -- that due to my experience within the College, I have the ability to collaborate with or for a number of brands and industries, which is a powerful feeling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an undergraduate, he interned at Cotton Incorporated<\/a> in Cary, N.C. The internship\u2019s hands-on technical experience helped hone his problem-solving skills and apply his education to real-world problems. A graduate assistantship with COT professor Dr. Pam Banks-Lee<\/a> brought expanded opportunities, including the chance to work with undergraduate students, and a new view to career opportunities in textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to joining VF, Holloway worked with companies and in roles across the apparel and footwear industry that prepared him well for his current position. He was a materials manager for Footwear at Under Armour<\/a>, fabric developer for Oakley<\/a>, product development and sourcing specialist for Abercrombie and Fitch<\/a>, and director of innovation research for Fruit of the Loom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong combination of education and professional experience means that Holloway brings a thorough understanding of textiles, technology and innovation to his current position. But his role also influences him in a number of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m constantly exposed to forward thinking individuals within our organization as well as through relationships that extend beyond the walls of VF,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing able to converse with internal team members and external partners that are constantly thinking about future trends, technologies and their impact always keeps me looking ahead. My inspiration comes from these types of \u2018futurists\u2019 and helps me to think critically about the goals of the team I\u2019m a part of as well as brands that we partner with to deliver game changing products to our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holloway also shared some recent, exciting personal news. He and his wife Crystal, herself a Wilson College of Textiles double alumna, welcomed their second child in August 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI owe everything to NC State, particularly the Wilson College of Textiles,\u201d he said. \u201cCrystal and I look forward to telling our boys, Mason and Liam, how special of a place the College is to us and maybe persuade them to become part of the Wolfpack!\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As lead developer for VF Corporation\u2019s Global Innovation Center, NC State College of Textiles double alumnus Colin Holloway works toward one goal: developing breakthrough technologies for new products. It\u2019s a role that Holloway embraces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":25055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"caption\":\"\",\"displayCategoryID\":2131}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[490,496,479],"tags":[623,1072,645,1073,835,513,611,780,507],"displayCategory":null,"acf":[],"yoast_head":"