#Associations

2020-05-14

Technical committee on Research Service Award presented

The AATCC Technical Committee on Research (TCR) Service Award for 2020 was presented to R. Stephen (Steve) Simonson during the AATCC International Conference Awards Luncheon held in March 2020 in Greenville, SC, USA. Simonson is being recognized for his long-time leadership of RA106 UV Protective Textiles Test Methods Committee, including assisting with revising AATCC Test Method 183 in coordination with related ASTM standards, publication of a compilation document, and development of a verification fabric.

He is also recognized for leading thorough reviews and revisions of AATCC Test Methods 8 and 61. Simonson became a voting member of RA106 UV Protective Textiles Test Method Committee in 2011 and chaired this committee from 2011 through 2018.

Simonson joined AATCC as a student member in 1975. In addition to RA106, he is currently active in the following research committees: RA56 Stain Resistance Test Methods (1989), RA23 Colorfastness to Water Test Methods (1991), RA43 Professional Textile Care Test Methods (1997), RA31 Antimicrobial Activity Test Methods (1999), RA49 Insect Resistance Test Methods (2000), RA63 Water Resistance, Absorbency & Wetting Agent Evaluation Test Method (2011), C3 Technical Committee of Research (2010), and RA100 Global Sustainability Test Methods (2018). He also serves on RA111 Electronically Integrated Textiles Test Method (2018), and RA112 Thermal Regulation Test Methods Committee (2018).

Simonson served on several AATCC administrative committees, including the AATCC and AATCC Foundation Boards of Directors. Additionally, he served as the Convener for ISO TC 38/SC2/WG 8, Water Resistance Tests. He was named as the US Expert for ISO SC2/WG9 Nonwovens, SC2/WG8 Water Resistance, and SC2/WG10 Water Vapor Transfer Test Methods. He has served as a US Delegate for ISO TC38/SC2 meetings.

Simonson received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Textile Chemistry from North Carolina State University. Simonson was awarded the AATCC Chapin Award in 2008 and received the first Chairman’s Award from Burlington Industries for developing a machine/test method for evaluating waterproofness of fabrics. At the time of his retirement from Elevate Textiles/ITG Burlington Worldwide, where he worked for 41 years, Simonson was a Research and Development Manager. In addition to consulting, he is enjoying golfing and home landscaping.

The Award

The Technical Committee on Research Service Award was established in 2008 to recognize those members who have contributed greatly to the AATCC organization in a technical capacity. Senior members of the Association with at least five years of continuous membership in AATCC, who have contributed outstanding technical service to the Association through activity in a research committee, are eligible. Selection is by unanimous choice of the TCR Service Award Committee composed of the current chair, vice chair, and secretary of the Technical Committee on Research (TCR), as well as the chair of the Executive Committee on Research (ECR). The Award consists of a plaque and an honorarium, presented at the International Conference.

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.

New funding available for textile research

The AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Grant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing textile-related projects. Students may submit proposals now for funding to be awarded January 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1, 2025, to be considered.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

Italian textile machinery orders show quarterly recovery in Q2 2026

In the period between April and June 2026, order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers showed mixed but encouraging signals for the second half of the year. The order index at constant prices stood at 46.6 points (taking 2021=100 as the base year), showing a slight decrease of 3% compared to the same quarter of 2025. This trend was largely due to the contraction recorded in the domestic market, which fell by 25% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.