09/23/2026
“We don’t have a factory problem; we have a label problem.”
Last week, Service Thread CEO Jay Todd took the stage at the Industrial Specialty Fabrics & Materials (ISIFM) conference with a powerful message: Industrial textiles are advanced manufacturing.
In his presentation, “Advanced Manufacturing in Plain Sight,” Jay challenged outdated perceptions of the American textile industry and highlighted the sophisticated, highly engineered products being made right here in the United States.
From body armor and filtration to aerospace, automotive, medical and infrastructure applications, today’s textile manufacturers are developing products that support our economy, our communities and our national security.
Jay also emphasized the importance of having a unified voice in Washington through the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), advocating for policies that support American manufacturing, strong domestic supply chains and the future of the U.S. textile industry.
With $60.9 billion in U.S. textile shipments, 453,000 supply-chain jobs and $34.3 billion in capital investment since 2017, this is an industry that deserves to be recognized for what it truly is: advanced manufacturing in plain sight.
We’re proud to have Jay Todd representing Service Thread and helping tell the story of an industry that continues to innovate, invest and manufacture critical products right here in America!
GREENVILLE, S.C. — From new adhesive technology and workforce challenges to trade uncertainty and the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in manufacturing, this week’s International Society of Industrial Fabric