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As we come to the close of another year in the global textile and apparel industry, let me first say thank you – to our readers, our advertisers and our advocates – for walking this road with us. Because of you, this community has grown, from nearly 6,800 subscribers a year ago to now more than 7,000 strong, bound together across mills, labs, classrooms and boardrooms – this through no less than 28 events that I covered this year.
It has not been an easy year. We have felt the weight of soft demand, rising costs, global uncertainty and persistent workforce challenges. And yet, here we still stand. Still innovating. Still investing. Still teaching. Still making. From fiber to finished goods, this industry has shown once again that resilience is not just what we do – it is who we are.
And so as we look ahead, let us remember this: we do not move forward alone. We move forward together. The relationships we build – through trade associations, conferences, classrooms and plant floors – are not just transactions, they are connections. They are how knowledge is passed, how partnerships are formed, how young people find their way in, and how this industry renews itself generation after generation.
For many years now, I have felt called to carry a message beyond our own walls – to the public, to policymakers, and especially to the next generation – that textiles are not our grandparents’ industry. This is a high-tech, innovative, clean and modern industry. It is chemistry and code. It is engineering and design. It is automation and sustainability. It is one of the quiet foundations of our economy, touching nearly every life, every day.
And at the heart of it all is something even simpler and more powerful: this industry is stitched together by sticktuitiveness. By craft. By pride. By a shared love for the fibers and fabrics that clothe us, protect us, heal us and connect us to one another. What we make matters. How we make it matters. And who we make it with matters most of all.
So may we continue to show up. May we continue to teach. May we continue to welcome new voices, new ideas and new hands into this work. And may we continue to tell our story – clearly, boldly and with gratitude – so that others may see its value and join us on the journey. Can I get an amen?
Wishing you and your families a happy holiday season, a merry Christmas and a healthy, hopeful and prosperous new year. Thank you for being part of this community.
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