What’s Next for U.S. Textile Manufacturing? ISAIC Joins the Conversation
ISAIC VP of Manufacturing and Innovation Lionel Vargas Cruz at ARM Institute
March 17, 2026 — Morganton, North Carolina
ISAIC’s VP of Manufacturing and Innovation, Lionel Vargas Cruz, recently attended a workshop focused on developing a roadmap for automation in U.S. textile manufacturing.
Hosted at The Industrial Commons in partnership with the North Carolina Textile Innovation Engine, the workshop convened participants from across government, industry, and academia. Together, they worked to:
Identify key challenges in domestic textile manufacturing
Explore emerging automation and robotics solutions
Inform the development of a Technology Development Roadmap for future investment
Strengthen collaboration across the textile innovation ecosystem
Currently, less than 3% of the clothing worn in the United States is produced domestically. This presents not only a commercial risk during supply chain disruptions, but also a broader national security concern when the U.S. lacks the ability to quickly produce essential goods like PPE, defense materials, and other textile-based products.
While the industry is well-positioned for automation, increased investment is critical to help reshore these operations and strengthen long-term resilience. The ARM Institute has already funded several projects advancing these innovations, with this roadmap set to build on that momentum.
The day concluded with a tour of Material Return, offering a powerful reminder that the future of textile manufacturing is being built right here in the United States.
Thank you to everyone involved for the opportunity to participate. We are inspired by the shared commitment to advancing U.S. finished goods textile manufacturing.
To learn more about ISAIC’s approach to innovation, visit our website here.
If you’re interested in an ISAIC team member attending an event, reach out to communications@isaic.org
Read about the recent closed-door industry event ISAIC hosted in London