The Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (CARS) department at the Bryan School of Business and Economics has established a significant relationship with Cotton Incorporated, an organization that oversees the entire lifecycle of cotton. From fibers to finished products, cotton is one of the world’s most important fibers.
The partnership between CARS and Cotton Incorporated has been going on since the late 90’s when J. Berrye Worsham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cotton Incorporated, joined the CARS Industry Advisory Board. A 1978 graduate of the University of North Carolina with a B.S. in Business Administration, Mr. Worsham went on to receive his MBA from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1979 and now serves on the Bryan School’s Advisory Board. Yvonne Johnson, Senior Director of Product Development and 1982 alum of the CARS program at UNCG is the current representative from Cotton Incorporated on the CARS Industry Advisory Board.
Cotton Incorporated is dedicated to sustainability and their Cotton in the Curriculum (CIC) Grant Program proves this. This program supports faculty teaching in the fields of fiber, textiles, apparel, fashion design, or merchandising to develop coursework, class projects, and experiences that help students learn more about cotton and cotton products.
Students gather around the cutting table in the Spiritex design room to learn about the success of the company manufacturing “Made in the USA” organic cotton clothing from the company Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Creative Director Marylou Marsh Sanders.
Faculty in the CARS department have worked on three notable CIC funded projects with another proposed. Two of the previous projects focused on developing students’ sustainability knowledge and skills in product sourcing and retail buying. The current project, Mapping the North Carolina Cotton Supply Chain, is designed to educate students in the required CARS Global Sourcing class about the domestic supply chain of cotton. This project addresses the prevailing trend of outsourcing apparel production due to lower costs abroad, highlighting the potential benefits of bringing some production back to the United States. Students in the CRS 363 Global Sourcing course are creating local supply chains to build cotton clothing lines from fiber to finished products.
CIC grant funds were used to support student field trips in both Spring and Fall 2024 semesters. Students spent a day at the Cotton Incorporated global headquarters in Cary to learn about innovative cotton performance technologies and sustainability. They also visited NC businesses to learn about challenges and opportunities for producing yarns (Hill Spinning Mill in Thomasville), fabrics (Beverly Knits in Gastonia), and clothing (Spiritex in Asheville). Equipped with new knowledge and insights from local business owners, student teams will practice how to communicate the value of domestically manufactured apparel to consumers. As Dr. Elena Karpova, lead project PI and CRS 363 instructor explained, “Through this project, students gain insight into the domestic infrastructure and capabilities related to cotton apparel production, fostering a greater understanding of the local supply chain.”
Students studying a computerized and fully-automated knitting machine making fabric at Beverly Knits.
“Taking part in the Cotton supply chain trip has been one of the most unique and eye-opening educational experiences I have ever had. Nothing matches being able to see the entirety of the supply chain hands on speaking with the companies and individuals who keep this industry alive here in North Carolina. From Hill Mill Spinning, Beverly, and Spiritex, they all brought new and insightful information on the nuances of the cotton supply chain. This trip is a true testament to the dedication that the faculty of CARS have for creating unique and one-of-a-kind learning experiences for students,” said Elijah Weinshilboum, a CARS MS student and Graduate Assistant on the project.
According to Dr. Nancy Hodges, Head of the CARS department and CIC project co-PI, the CARS program prides itself on producing industry-ready graduates. Now more than ever graduates are facing an urgent situation because of climate change and the negative impacts of waste in the fashion industry. “A project like this brings this urgency to life, while presenting students with innovative ways of producing textiles and fashion locally. CARS students are the industry of the future — the potential for making impactful change lies in their hands.”
