History
of the Department of
Textile
Products Design and Marketing
 Clothing
and textiles has been a part of UNCG's history since its beginning
in 1892. Its first president, Charles McIver, believed
that women needed to be educated not only for teaching or business
but also for their inevitable task of homemaking. Therefore,
all students were required to complete courses in foods and
clothing along with liberal arts. By 1904, students could
major in Domestic Arts, which was clothing and textiles. In
these early years, the clothing and textiles curricula included
sewing, design, textiles, color, textile manufacturing, historic
textiles, and millinery.
In
1917, the Department/School of Home Economics was established
and the college was renamed The North Carolina College for Women.
From 1917 to 1936, the Department was called Clothing and Textiles
and Housing. In the 1920s considerable building took place on
the campus. The Home Management House on McIver Street was completed
in 1922 and the Home Economics Building in 1928. The first Bachelor
of Science Degree in Home Economics was conferred in 1922, the
first Master of Science Degree in 1928.
By
1931, the North Carolina Legislature consolidated the three
state-supported institutions (North Carolina State University,
UNC Chapel Hill, and NC College for Women) into one system,
The University of North Carolina. In the consolidation
plans, Home Economics was to be moved to the Chapel Hill campus,
but Greensboro refused. Home Economics remained at Greensboro
and the University became popularly known as "WC" or formally
as The Women's College of The University of North Carolina.
Between 1936 and 1972, the Department was referred to as the
Area
of Clothing and Textiles.
The
curriculum in the Department/School expanded to reflect changing
needs of individuals and families. Federal legislation provided
funds to assist with the education of teachers and extension
agents. In the 1930s, the School included seven different areas
of study, one of which was clothing and textiles. The clothing
curriculum then included courses in clothing selection and construction,
pattern study, textile analysis, economics of textiles, and
history of both textiles and costume. In 1937, two faculty donated
specimens of textiles and laces which established the Costume
Collection.
The
School of Home Economics was formed by reorganization of the
College of Arts and Science in 1949 and areas were departmentalized.
In 1952, a new building was completed and the 1928 building
became a wing. It was not until 1957 that the new building was
named the Mary Frances Stone Building. By the 1960s, more graduate
education led to the establishment of the doctoral degree in
Home Economics. During this decade, the focus of Clothing
and Textiles changed to include greater emphasis on textiles.
The 1950-60s was the era of expansion for synthetic fibers with
concerns on fiber performance, finishes and modification, appropriate
end use, and consumers' selection and care of garments. The
local textile industry was supportive in assisting with textile-testing
equipment and funding. Burlington Industries funded a Professorship
in Textiles in 1960, and in 1970 Fieldcrest, Inc., funded a
student internship for a student with Junior class standing.
In
1975, Clothing and Textiles officially became a Department,
and emphasized fashion merchandising in addition to textile
science and apparel arts.  The
first supervised internships and industry advisory board were
established in 1984. International contacts grew through faculty
travel and foreign students pursuing graduate study. In 1989,
the first endowed Distinguished Professorship was created in
honor of Charles A. Hayes, CEO of Guilford Mills.
In
1990, the Department made major strides in curriculum reorganization.
Two concentrations were established at the undergraduate level,
Textile Products Design and Textile Products Marketing. The
rationale was that apparel only represents 38% of domestic textile
products and many North Carolina companies produce a broad range
of products; therefore, students should be prepared to enter
all industries. Textile Science as an undergraduate concentration
was dropped in 1991 but retained at the graduate level. Four
major undergraduate scholarships were made possible through
members of the Advisory Board; two scholarships are supported
by VF Corporation Companies and two by SEAMS.
In
1995, the American Textile Manufacturers' Institute (ATMI) selected
the Department for the Award of Excellence. ATMI cited
the department for a strong academic program, the faculty's
outstanding work with industry, and an active industry advisory
board. The former Department Chair was recognized by Bobbin
magazine as the Educator of the Year for successfully rebuilding
the textile and apparel program, establishing a strong working
relationship with the textile and apparel industries, and improving
of the facilities.
 By
1997, the administration approved the plans for a revised doctoral
program. A doctoral fellowship was established by Dr.
Nancy Sears. In 1997, a name change was approved: Department
of Textile Products Design and Marketing (TDM). During the academic
year, 1997-98, the Department successfully completed an external
review of both its undergraduate and graduate programs.
The Textile Products Design program met the educational competencies
and laboratory requirements of the American Apparel Manufacturers'
Association in both 1998 and again in 2003. This approval
raised the UNCG program into a select group of programs nationally:
Iowa State University, Auburn, FIT, Philadelphia College of
Textiles, NC State University, and Oklahoma State. We
see our future built upon striving for excellence through improved
curricula, facilities, and research to create new knowledge
and enrichment experiences for students.
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