{"id":27702,"date":"2022-07-21T10:57:41","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T14:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=27702"},"modified":"2024-07-05T12:00:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T16:00:47","slug":"matthew-iezzi-18-19-a-world-class-textiles-education-took-this-graduate-to-thailand-hong-kong-and-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2022\/07\/matthew-iezzi-18-19-a-world-class-textiles-education-took-this-graduate-to-thailand-hong-kong-and-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthew Iezzi \u201918, \u201919: A World-Class Textiles Education Took This Graduate to Thailand, Hong Kong and Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

To say that Matthew Iezzi \u201918, \u201919 had a fulfilling college experience while he was a student at the Wilson College of Textiles would be an understatement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his time on campus, he conducted research on biodegradable fibers; was a member of the Sigma Tau Sigma Textile Honor Society<\/a> and the Greater Good Textile Group<\/a>; president of the Global Village<\/a>\u2019s hall council; a recipient of the prestigious Kimbrell Centennial Scholarship<\/a>; and graduated with a near-perfect GPA \u2014 3.99 to be exact \u2014 twice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matthew<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition to exploring the textile industry in North Carolina through multiple internships, his Centennial Scholarship provided enrichment funding that propelled him to accept an internship in Thailand and study abroad in Hong Kong. While in Thailand, he worked in a vertical mill producing sportswear products and gained a critical understanding of the complexities of mass manufacturing. In Hong Kong, he dove even deeper into his interest in supply chain management as a student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Iezzi graduated in 2018 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in textile technology<\/a> and walked across the stage the following year with a master\u2019s degree in textile engineering<\/a>. This process would have typically taken at least six years, but he completed it in five thanks to the college\u2019s Accelerated Bachelor\u2019s\/Master\u2019s program<\/a>.\u00a0

Today, he lives in Los Angeles and works at Ambercycle \u2014 a materials company aiming to build an infinite textile ecosystem. As a textile engineer within the organization, Iezzi processes and develops new yarns and fabrics made from end-of-life textiles.

Outside of work, Iezzi is an avid hiker and cyclist who spends much of his free time on the trails. In addition to supporting his local community, he gives back to the Wilson College of Textiles to pay forward the support he received. \u201cHaving been a part of different student organizations on campus, I know how far even a small donation can go,\u201d Iezzi says.

To learn more about Iezzi\u2019s career path and his unique advice for current textile students, read his Q&A below.\u00a0

Degree<\/strong> B.S. Textile Technology<\/a>, 2018 and M.S. Textile Engineering<\/a>, 2019
Job Title<\/strong> Textile Engineer at Ambercycle
Current City<\/strong> Los Angeles, California
Hometown<\/strong> Gastonia, North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did you choose NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I grew up in Gastonia, a town with strong ties to textile mills and manufacturing, so I felt like it was a part of my DNA. I was always intrigued by the materials in the clothes I wore. My dad worked in plants when I was younger, so I grew up around manufacturing. I felt an immediate connection when I saw the college\u2019s Dyeing and Finishing Lab<\/a> (commonly called the Pilot Plant) \u2014 that really drew me in. I was intrigued by the fact that the floors below the college had facilities for producing garments from the fiber up, from spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and finishing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What activities were you involved in as an NC State student and how did they impact your experience? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The experience that really shaped me was being part of NC State\u2019s Global Village<\/a>. Each semester, we roomed with an exchange student from a different country. This turned the halls into a mix of cultures that exposed me to different ways of thinking and different realities. This inspired me to travel even more which is, fortunately, a large part of the global textile trade and has really helped me connect on a deeper cultural level beyond just business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your fondest memory of being at NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The sense of community within the Wilson College of Textiles, which I feel extends even after we graduate. That was largely built while eating Layton’s BBQ on the patio at the college. NC State is a big school with a small-school personality, and it has a unique mix of cultures and people. I enjoyed every bit of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who influenced you most during your time at the Wilson College of Textiles? And why or how? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are too many to name! Drs. Russell Gorga<\/a>, Jess Jur, Melissa Pasquinelli<\/a>, Emiel DenHartog<\/a>, Jeff Joines<\/a>, George Hodge<\/a> and Tushar Ghosh<\/a> were all extremely wise and pushed me to explore what was possible within the textiles field. My peers influenced me, as well. Textiles are an oddly specific \u2014 and awesome \u2014 thing to study, and I found that everyone had a reason and passion for being there. This made it feel so much more than just a \u201cschool\u201d. Kent Hester, the former director of student and career services, had endless advice and shared the true benefits of what can be gained and created from a \u201cclose-knit\u201d [that pun never gets old] college community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did your education at the Wilson College of Textiles prepare you for what you are doing today?<\/strong>  <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The college prepared me in so many ways. A few examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n