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.
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.
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) is the association representing Canadian textile manufacturers.
CTI’s role is to proactively support a healthy, competitive textile industry that creates employment for Canadians and value for Canada.
CTI’s members include yarn producers; fabric producers; dyers and finishers; and producers of textiles for a wide range of industrial and consumer uses. CTI estimates that its member companies account for the major part of the industry’s shipments. CTI also offers 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.
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.
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.
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.