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#Associations

Winners announcement: 2021 AATCC Outstanding College Graduate Award

This year’s recipient of the AATCC Outstanding College Graduate of the Year Award is Josephine “Josie” Cranfill from North Carolina State University (NCSU). She was chosen from all the AATCC Student Chapter Award recipients for this award; she received a plaque and a check from AATCC in the amount of US$1,000.

Cranfill will graduate with a degree in Polymer & Color Chemistry Science with an Operations Concentration and a Spanish Minor. Her ability to apply her knowledge, specifically in the textile areas, is exceptional. She demonstrates this each day with her work in the NCSU Pilot Lab. Putting her knowledge into practice is where Cranfill’s understanding of textile chemistry principles really shines.

Josephine Cranfill © 2021 AATCC
Josephine Cranfill © 2021 AATCC




Cranfill has completely dedicated herself to the service of the university and the AATCC Student Chapter. Whether it was her role as her class’s representative, a university student ambassador, the founder of an organization focused on healthcare and sanitary needs for women experiencing homelessness, or as president of the student chapter, she has given so much of her time to serve, help, and mentor others. Her work with the NCSU AATCC Student Chapter helped to significantly increase the active membership outside of the chemistry majors and reach students in the apparel and fashion majors. Through her service, she has had an impact on hundreds of students during her time at the university.

Cranfill says, “Immediately after spring graduation, I plan on completing a second senior research project with NCSU’s Harold Freeman and Gerardo Montero centered on supercritical carbon dioxide dyeing. I’m excited to further my research on non-aqueous dyeing methods with two renowned experts in the field. In July, I will be joining Unifi at their Reidsville, NC, USA, dyehouse as a Management Trainee. I’ve been able to speak with Unifi representatives throughout my undergraduate career and am happy to be a part of a company so focused on sustainable innovation. Post-graduation, I’ll be continuing my involvement with AATCC as a newly graduated young professional while keeping up contact with our NC State chapter as an alumna.”


More News from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

#Associations

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.

#Research & Development

New funding available for textile research

The AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Grant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing textile-related projects. Students may submit proposals now for funding to be awarded January 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1, 2025, to be considered.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

AATCC’s Circularity Conference approaches as organization continues 2025 Sustainable Textile Event series

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) announces that registration is closing soon for its highly anticipated Circularity Conference, continuing this year’s sustainability event series that has delivered significant value to industry professionals.

#Associations

AATCC Textile Standards adopted by Colombian and Sri Lankan Governments

AATCC test methods and procedures are international standards, meeting the criteria set forth by the World Trade Organization and used around the globe. The standards gain additional recognition through Memoranda of Understanding with Colombia and Sri Lanka.

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#Techtextil 2026

VDMA members at Techtextil: Smart technologies for technical textiles

At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, the members of VDMA Textile Machinery underline their key role as global technology leaders for technical textiles and textile processing. With a strong presence of more than 50 members they will highlight how engineering excellence, innovation strength and sustainability expertise from Germany and Europe are shaping the future of the textile industry. Seven companies will be present at the VDMA group stand in the centre of hall 12.0.

#Techtextil 2026

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

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#Texprocess 2026

Between investment restraint and modernization pressure

Texprocess 2026 takes place in a complex market environment shaped by uncertainty and innovation pressure. In this interview, Elgar Straub (VDMA) explains why the trade fair is particularly relevant this year and which technologies are driving efficiency and competitiveness.

#Associations

Europe is losing its textile industry

EURATEX has released its latest Economic Update on the performance of the European textile and apparel industry in 2025. For the third consecutive year, the sector recorded negative results across all key indicators — production, turnover and employment — confirming a continued erosion of competitiveness across Europe.

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#Heimtextil 2027

Heimtextil celebrates Milan Design Week honoring partnerships with Patricia Urquiola and Alcova Milano

Heimtextil is represented at Milan Design Week with its strong design partners Patricia Urquiola and Alcova. At Villa Pestarini, the leading trade fair spotlighted its dynamic collaborations with acclaimed designer Patricia Urquiola and Alcova Milano.

#Texprocess 2026

Kornit Digital expands digital production into footwear and technical textiles with Presto MAX PLUS

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT) (“Kornit” or the “Company”), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production, today unveiled the Kornit Presto MAX PLUS, a new roll-to-roll system expanding digital manufacturing into footwear, automotive interiors, military camouflage, high-performance sportswear, and high-end furnishings. Debuting at Texprocess 2026 in Frankfurt, Presto MAX PLUS enables entirely new applications for on-demand textile production.

#Textile processing

NATULON® zipper series surpasses 50% of YKK’s global zipper sales

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) announces that the global sales share of its NATULON® zipper series—zippers that incorporate recycled materials—has exceeded 50%.

#Smart Textiles

Covestro, FILK Freiberg, and OUT e.V. develop flexible, conductive polymer smart textile system

As the smart textiles market continues to grow across healthcare, personal protection, sportswear, and automotive applications, developers are seeking new ways to integrate electronic functionality directly into textiles, without the rigidity and complexity of conventional wiring. To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

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