The mission of the United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) is to build a strong coalition of US fiber, fabric, and end product manufacturers and to serve member company interests both domestically and internationally. Learn more.  USIFI member companies must:

• be incorporated
• have business headquarters or significant manufacturing in the United States
• service or supply the United States specialty fabrics industry with products

USIFI is part of the not-for-profit  Industrial Fabrics Association International (www.ifai.com), the global association for the specialty fabrics industry.

The textile industry has come out in strong support of government funding for two R & D groups, [TC]² and NTC. Both groups do basic and applied research on topics pertaining to apparel and textiles.  Request letters were sent to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate asking for funding for [TC]² and NTC to be part of 2011 Appropriations bills.

Letter of Support - Senate

Letter of Support - House

Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation ([TC]² is a consortium of fiber, fabric and apparel producers, organized labor groups, and retailers. Their research includes sizing analysis, technology development for production improvements, alternative energy sources, sustainability, and more. More details can be found at http://www.tc2.com/.

Eight colleges and universities make up the National Textile Center - Cornell, UMass Dartmouth, Philadelphia U, NCSU, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia Tech, and UC Davis. Their research projects encompass a wide variety of topics in materials, textile chemistry, fabrication, and systems. Find out more about currently funded projects at http://www.ntcresearch.org/.  

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Key Facts about U.S. Textile Industry
• One of the largest manufacturing employers in the United States, the  overall textile sector employed over 675,000 workers in 2008. Textile mills alone employed 298,000 workers.
• The 3rd largest exporter of textile products in the world – more than $16 billion in 2008.
• Nearly two-thirds of U.S. textile exports during 2008 went to developing countries. The U.S. textile industry exported to more than 50 countries, with 20 countries buying more than $100 million a year.
• Supplies more than 8,000 different textile products a year to the U.S. military.
• U.S. textile shipments totaled $68.5 billion in 2007.
• Invested more than $9 billion in new plants and equipment from 2001 to 2006.
• Has increased productivity by 50 percent over the last 10 years and ranks second among all industrial sectors in productivity increases. 'Lewis Gossett (gossett@myscma.com)'
• In 2007, textile workers on average earned 136% more than clothing store workers ($524 a week vs. $222) and received health care and pension benefits.