The Future Workforce -- a great read!

The future of the fabric industry is a serious subject -- and luckily, it seems like people are beginning to talk about it. In the October issue of Specialty Fabrics Review in an article titled, The Future of the Workforce, the author brings to lights how crucial it is to support the existence of these jobs and to encourage and nurture young individuals to pursue these kinds of trades. Without individuals who have welding and sewing skills, the industry will struggle to survive.

The article touches on how textile manufacturer's need sewers and sewers need opportunities that lead to fulfilling careers. The two must be merged successfully to keep the industry growing. The partnership between IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) and the Makers Coalition are trying to do just that. Our owner, Amy Bircher, is committed to helping this process where she can. As chair of the Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) which committed $120,000 to the Makers Division program over the next two years Amy says, "The decision to fund this program was very easy. The foundation stands for education, innovation, and development within our industry. This comes at a time when the industry is growing, manufacturing jobs are coming back and the need for professional development couldn't be greater. The vocations of sewing and welding - the kinds of things that are used in a manufacturing shop for finished products - hardly exist anymore." 

To read the full article, click here: 1016RV_Makers.pdf (3.55 mb)

We love seeing programs like this one being supported throughout the industry and enjoy taking the time to mention how much bringing jobs back to the United States means to us as a company.