Textiles & Nonwovens Brochure
North Carolina is historically the heart of textiles and nonwovens in the US, recognized as the center of textile manufacturing in the mid-1900s.
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North Carolina is a leading hub for textiles and nonwovens in the US, combining a skilled workforce, cutting-edge manufacturing, and top research institutions. The state drives innovation across industries—from transportation and home furnishings to medical and hygiene products. With a diverse textile ecosystem and close access to end users, North Carolina empowers companies to grow, innovate, and lead in the global market.
North Carolina employs more than 33,000 people in the textiles and nonwovens industry, making it the second largest in the US (Lightcast, 2025). There’s never a shortage of skilled workers and valuable customers.
North Carolina State University’s globally recognized College of Textiles leads the nation in nonwovens research and industry partnerships. Its Nonwovens Institute is the largest industry-academic cooperative research center in the nation.
All textiles and nonwovens companies can feel at home in North Carolina. With an especially high concentration of knit fabric, apparel knitting, nonwoven, fabric finishing, and cord and tire fabric mills, the right infrastructure is right here.
Whether your materials are fit for transportation vehicles, home and office furnishings, or medical/hygiene products, you’re in the right place. NC’s advanced textile landscape is highly diverse and proximity to end users is second to none.
North Carolina leads the way in producing top-tier talent for the textile industry, supplying companies with a pipeline of skilled workers and unmatched access to textile and nonwovens R&D resources. The North Carolina State University (NCSU) Wilson College of Textiles is the only university in the United States with a college entirely devoted to textiles education and is the #1 textiles institution in the world. Six of North Carolina’s community colleges have dedicated training programs and manufacturing technology centers that provide a wide array of services to companies.
North Carolina has many programs and research centers that support nonwovens businesses, including:
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North Carolina is historically the heart of textiles and nonwovens in the US, recognized as the center of textile manufacturing in the mid-1900s.
Tex-Tech Industries, a leading manufacturer of specialty textiles, will create 49 new jobs in Forsyth County....