Southeastern North Carolina has a long and productive history in the textile industry. Over the past
decade, a shift from traditional weaving and sewing textiles to advanced and technical nonweaving textiles
has occurred. Advanced and performance textiles are more automated and provide a variety of products in
the region, including military uniforms and equipment, synthetic fibers, environmental protection products,
industrial and automotive filters, and clothing. As a leading state in textile manufacturing, North Carolina
has a number of excellent resource organizations to assist companies in this industry sector.

ADVANCED TEXTILES ASSETS

The center for the entire US textile industry and its

technological innovations is NC. NC’s Southeast Region has the assets to make non-woven and

technical textile companies successful. While

traditional textile and apparel manufacturing

industries continue to move overseas, NC’s

Southeast remains competitive. The region, which is

currently home to over 30 performance textile

companies (and 50 other textile companies), is

emerging as a major hub for next-generation fabric,

apparel and textile production.

ACCESS TO RAW MATERIALS

The region is a unique producer of both the

synthetic and natural raw materials required to

foster innovation and growth in the advanced

textiles industry.

• Chemicals and Resins:
  > Chemicals provide the base raw material to

      form fibers as well as dyes or finishes that can

      be applied to various textile products.

  > Specialty chemical companies located in the

      region, include Hexion Chemical, BASF, and

      Silar Laboratories.

  > Textile companies with chemical production

      capabilities include DAK Americas and Invista.

• Natural Fibers:

   > Cotton is the most widely used natural,

       cellulosic fiber in advanced textile production.

   > Cotton production in NC’s Southeast Region is

      among the highest in the state, which ranks

      sixth in national production.

   > 3 counties produced over 20,000 bales (480 lb

      bales), total production in the Region was over

      100,000 bales (USDA 2008).

•  Synthetic Fibers:

    > The main synthetic fibers are polyester, nylon,

        acrylic, polyolefin, and spandex, which are

        important components of a wide variety of

        advanced textile products.

    > The Region is home to a growing number of

        firms that specialize in the production of

        synthetic fibers, including DAK Americas,

        Quantum Acrylics, Omni Systems/Hygiene

        Systems, and Kordsa USA.