The value of shipments for US textiles and apparel has increased 16 per cent since 2009.Exports of fabric and yarn increased 6.7 per cent in January compared to December and were up 4.8 per cent year-to-year.

Smart textiles are revolutionizing the industry, opening doors for applications beyond fashion, insulation or covering material. In addition, the US textile industry is embracing greater efforts in sustainability. Many companies have set the goal of waste-free or near waste-free manufacturing, and more and more textile products are being designed with a circular lifecycle in mind.

The US now has trade in the crosshairs, with tariffs being imposed and trade deals being renegotiated. The timing coincides with what has been a Made in America resurgence of sorts, driven largely by rising costs in China. Reshoring of manufacturing is being given priority. Growing e-commerce is reconfiguring the retail sector, a trend that encourages a buy it, make it, ship it production model.

Combined with low US energy costs and advances in automating garment and sewn product assembly, possibilities for shifting some textile-related supply chains back to the United States and the Western Hemisphere from Asia are becoming increasingly promising.

Textiles in the News is a new website set to promote the US textile industry.