American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
Website: www.aatcc.org
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists seeks to promote the increase of knowledge of the application
of colorants, chemicals, and polymers in the Textile Industry, encourage in any practical way research work on chemical
processes and materials of importance to the Textile Industry, and establish for the members channels by which the interchange
of professional knowledge among them may be increased. Founded in 1921, AATCC is the world's leading not-for-profit professional association
for the textile design, materials, processing, and testing industries. NTA's Hardy Poole is a member of AATCC.
American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AMFA)
Website: www.fibersource.com
The American Fiber Manufacturers Association, Inc. (AFMA) is the trade association for U.S. companies that manufacture
synthetic and cellulosic fibers. The industry employs 30 thousand people and produces over 9 billion pounds of fiber in the U.S.
Annual domestic sales exceed $10 billion. AFMA member companies produce more than 90% of the total U.S. output of these fibers.
The membership is limited to U.S. producers that sell manufactured fiber in the open market. The Association maintains close ties
to other manufactured fiber trade associations worldwide.
AFMA has been in continuous operation since 1933, when it was established as the Rayon Institute with headquarters in New York.
As new fibers entered the market, the Association was renamed the Man-Made Fiber Producers Association. In 1970, operations were
moved to Washington as the focus grew from promotion to include advocacy on a broad range of regulatory and international trade
issues. The current name for the Association was adopted in 1988.
American Sheep Industry Association (ASI)
Website: www.sheepusa.org
ASI is the national organization representing the interests of more than 69,000 sheep producers located throughout the United States.
From East to West, farm flocks to range operations, ASI works to represent the interests of all producers.
ASI is a federation of 44 state sheep associations as well as individual members. All ASI officers, board of director members
and council and committee members serve as volunteers – without pay.
In September 2009 ASI formed a taskforce to identify and address the top challenges of expansion for sheep producers.
Karl Spilhaus, president, National Textile Association (NTA), and NTA member Sam Brickle have agreed to serve on this task force.
American Textile History Museum (ATHM)
Website: www.athm.org
Located in Lowell, Massachusetts
Karl Spilhaus serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum and is chairman of the Personnel Committee.
The board has worked to expand the mission of the museum in education, membership development and collections,
and has emphasized broadening the spectrum of exhibits to attract a greater audience for increased revenues.
American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI)
Founded 1949. Dissolved 2004.
The emergence of Washignton-based ATMI as the national trade association of the textile industry was the result of a series of mergers, beginning in 1949
with the consolidation of the American Cotton Manufacturers Association, with members primarily in the South, and the Cotton Textile Institute, with members
primarily in the North.
In 1958, the National Federation of Textiles merged with ATMI, bringing in the man-made fiber and silk textile industries.
This was followed by consolidations with the Association of Finishers of Textile Fabrics in 1965, the National Association of Wool Manufacturers in 1971 and the
Thread Institute in 1989.
As reported in the April 12, 2004, Southern Textile News,
ATMI was formally dissolved by its Board of Directors in March of 2004.
American Yarn Spinners Association (AYSA)
Now part of NCTO (see below).
Amoskeag Textile Club
A group of Amoskeag Manufacturing Company officials in 1911 established the Textile Club to provide workers with
social, cultural, and athletic activities while striving to improve the relationship between employers
and employees. The club, whose major income came from sales of cloth remnants and ready-made
suits, by 1914 had a membership of 400. Most members were overseers, second hands, or office
personnel. A far greater number of Amoskeag workers attended the club's athletic events and outings.
Other club-sponsored activities included athletic teams, speakers, social concerns, film presentations,
a glee club, a dramatic society, photography lessons, and a hunting and fishing club. The club also
operated a library and a school offering classes in textiles, office skills, and auto repairs. Other club
activities included the construction of Manchester's Textile Field, an athletic complex with a seating
capacity of 12,000, and the publishing of a bi-monthly magazine, The Amoskeag Bulletin. Increased
union representation, poor economic conditions, and worker apathy forced the Textile Club to
disband in 1928.
Atlanta Textile Club
Membership, which reached a high of 172 in 1975, had dwindled down to 40 last year, which wasn't enough to keep the club going
and sustain textile scholarships at Georgia Tech and Southern Polytechnic Institute. The club is throwing itself a farewell party May 18, 2004
at the W Hotel in Atlanta and donating what's left in its bank account to the scholarships.
The club started up in 1939, according to Bill Layng, club historian, and held meetings the first Monday
of every month, except for July. The club's heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s.
Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI)
Website: www.cashmere.org
The Cashmere & Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute was established in 1984 to promote the use of genuine cashmere and
camel hair products and to protect the interests of manufacturers, retailers and consumers of these products.
CCMI Objective: To maintain the integrity of cashmere and camel hair products through education, information and industry cooperation.
Canadian Textiles Institute (CTI)
Website: www.textiles.ca
Founded in 1935, the Canadian Textiles Institute (CTI) was the association representing Canadian textile manufacturers.
According to a notice published in the Canada Gazette, the official newspaper of the Government of Canada
(Vol. 142, No. 27 — July 5, 2008), the Canadian Textiles Institute intends to apply to the Minister of Industry for leave to surrender its charter
pursuant to the Canada Corporations Act (CCA). Section 32 of the CCA allows a corporation to surrender its charter, which has the effect of dissolving the corporation.
CTI’s role was to proactively support a healthy, competitive textile industry that creates employment for Canadians and value for Canada.
CTI’s members included yarn producers; fabric producers; dyers and finishers; and producers of textiles for a wide range of industrial and consumer uses.
CTI estimated that its member companies account for the major part of the industry’s shipments.
CTI also offered memberships for suppliers and financial institutions serving the textile industry;
for textile manufacturers in NAFTA countries; and for affiliates.
Cordage Institute
Website: www.ropecord.com
The Cordage Institute is an international association of manufacturers, producers, and resellers of cordage, rope, and twine. It is a not-for-profit corporation that depends on manufacturers in the industry, as well as companies serving industry members, to support the association and actively participate through the payment of dues and the volunteering of time.
Institute of Textile Technology (ITT)
Website: www.itt.edu
The Institute of Textile Technology was founded in 1944 by textile industry leaders who saw a need for individual companies to join forces in collective support of a private educational and research institution. Today, ITT enjoys an international reputation for the high quality of its programs and its graduates, many occupying positions of leadership in industry, education, and research.
The Institute was directed to conduct cooperative research, integrated with graduate research, as a means of helping the textile industry meet the challenges confronting it. The Institute continues to serve the role originally assigned by educating graduate students in the theory and practice of textile technology, carrying out research in the field, and by providing a center of information to keep the industry abreast of international developments in textiles. ITT also offers short 1-3 day courses concerning key technical issues in the textile industry.
ITT's role has also been expanded to include consulting and testing services that are designed to help members and clients improve performance and global economic competitiveness. The newly formed ITT Technologies, Incorporated (IT3) (a for-profit company) has greatly expanded the capabilities for conducting confidential and proprietary research for our members and clients. Targeted at the textile industry and related industries, ITT provides an online job and resume listing service different and more useful than the other online job listing services.
International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO)
Website: www.iwto.org
IWTO is the international body representing the interests of the world's wool-textile trade and industry.
IWTO membership covers woolgrowers, traders, primary processors, spinners, weavers, garment makers and retailers
of wool and allied fibres in its member-countries, as well as all kind of organizations related to wool products and the wool business in general.
The National Textile Association is currently working with IWTO to promote wool for interiors in the U.S.A. In the past the Cashmere and Camel
Hair Manufacturers Institute worked with ITWO in promoting adoption of the IWTO Code of Practice regarding S and Super S Numbers as
national standards in Japan and Western Europe. Prior to that NTA was successful in having the Code of Practice incorporated
into U.S. law.
National Cotton Council (NCC)
Website: www.cotton.org
The National Cotton Council of America's mission is to ensure the ability of all U.S. cotton industry segments to compete
effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.
The Council serves as the central forum for consensus-building among producers, ginners, warehousers, merchants, cottonseed processors/dealers, cooperatives and textile manufacturers. The organization is the unifying force in working with the government to ensure that cotton's interests are considered.
The Council's mission and objectives are carried out with the help of democratically-developed policy. Annual policymaking is initiated through recommendations generated by the Council's six program committees.
Committee recommendations are refined and approved by the Council's 35-member board of directors, acting as a resolutions committee, but must be adopted by the Council's delegates voting at the annual meeting.
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
Website: www.ncto.org
NCTO was founded in 2004 by former members of AMTI (see above). Shortly thereafter AYSA also disolved as a separate organization and merged with NCTO. The centerpiece of NCTO is the four separate councils representing the fiber, fabric, supplier, and yarn industries, each with its own board representation.
As a lobbying group, NCTO is harnessing the influence of an array of associations and business groups that have a stake in the survival and prosperity of the U.S. textile sector to leverage our impact in the halls of our nation's capitol.
National Textile Association (NTA)
Website: www.nationaltextile.org
Founded in 1854, NTA is America's oldest, and largest association of companies that weave, knit, dye, print, or finish fabric in the U.S.
The Northeast Textile Foundation (NTF)
Founded in 1995, this non-profit corporation’s mission is to encourage textile education in the northeast and supports
the Textile Sciences Department, UMass, Dartmouth. NTA members serving on the board are Karl Spilhaus, NTA, Boston, MA;
Peter Hadley, Claremont Flock, Leominster, MA; Michael Albert, Harodite Finishing, North Dighton, MA; Bud Eastwood,
Cranston Print Works Co., Cranston, RI, and Bill Giblin, Tweave, Inc., Norton, MA.
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
Website: www.outdoorindustry.org.
Founded in 1989, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the premier trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business.
OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry.
Outdoor Industry Association seeks to ensure a healthy and diverse specialty retail and supply chain based on quality, innovation and service.
To this end, OIA works diligently to raise the standards of the industry; increase participation in outdoor recreation to strengthen business markets;
provide support services to improve member profitability; represent member interests in the legislative/regulatory process; promote professional
training and education; support innovation; and offer cost-saving member benefits.
The National Textile Association (NTA) joined the Outdoor Industry Association in 2009 and is represented in that organization by Hardy Poole,
Vice President Regulatory and Technical Affairs.
Southern New England Textile Club
Southern Textile Association (STA)
Website: www.southerntextile.org
The Southern Textile Association, Inc., established in 1908, is a nonprofit organization for individuals in the textile and related industries with a common interest in all phases of textile manufacturing in Southern USA.
The purpose of the Association as stated in its Charter is to promote good fellowship among its members; to exchange professional knowledge and experience on subjects relating to textile manufacturing; to promote other social, educational, personnel relations, research, and other scientific activities for the benefit of the members, their companies , and the textile industry.
Textile Distributors Association (TDA)
Founded in 1938 as the Textiles Distributors Institute, TDA was located in New York City.
TDA in November 2007 announced plans to disband by early 2008. The demise of TDA was reported in the
November 14, 2007, issue of WWD, the November 15, 2007 issue of Home Textiles Today,
and the December 18, 2007, issue of WWD.
The University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Textile Advisory Committee (TAC)
Karl Spilhaus, president of NTA, serves on this committee which advises and oversees the textile sciences degree program at UMass, the UMass Dartmouth Foundation and its recruitment program. Serving on the committee are NTA members Bud Eastwood, Cranston Print Works Company, Cranston, RI; Bill Giblin, Tweave, Inc., Norton, MA; Gerry Mauretti, Engineered Yarns, Inc., Fall River, MA; and Neil Olken, Dyecraftsmen, Inc., Taunton, MA.