From June 22 to 24, an annual event hosted by The Cotton Board invited women to connect for the 2025 Cotton Incorporated Women in Ag Tour. This event aims to connect, educate, and inspire women working across the cotton industry.
Participants had the unique opportunity to visit Cotton Incorporated’s world headquarters in Cary, NC, where they toured several key facilities integral to the cotton industry’s innovation.
The visit included stops at the Fiber Processing Laboratory, which focuses on carding and spinning processes; the Dyeing and Finishing Laboratory, where the latest textile treatments are developed; the Product Evaluation Laboratory, where cotton products are tested for quality and performance; and the Product Development Laboratory, where new cotton-based products are created and refined.
The 2025 Cotton Incorporated Women in Ag Tour, held June 22-24 in Cary, NC, aimed to connect, educate, and inspire women working across the cotton industry.
1. Testing Room
The testing room is where yarn and fabric are carefully analyzed to ensure quality and performance.
2. Testing Room
In the Testing Room, every thread is tested to meet the highest standards of durability and consistency.
3. Testing Room
Fabric testing for storm-proof and waterproof performance, with materials washed up to 30 times to ensure long-lasting repellency. Play video below:
4. Testing Room
Abrasion testing in the fabric testing room to assess resistance to pilling and tearing. Play video below:
5. Design Room
Design room where patterns and colors are created and submitted to fashion companies.
6. Knitting and Weaving Room
Knitting and weaving room where fabric patterns are created through precise stitching.
7. Knitting and Weaving Room
Fabric machine in the Product Evaluation Laboratory (PEL) that creates precise patterns for textile production.
8. Knitting and Weaving Room
Here, precision stitching transforms yarn into intricate woven and knitted designs.
9. Knitting and Weaving Room
Weaving machine capable of transferring up to eight colors into fabric designs. Play video below:
10. Spinning Room
“Whenever and wherever we can get cotton into baby products, we can and try,” says Martin Schreiner, Director, Fiber Processing, highlighting the brand’s commitment to using 100% virgin cotton.
11. Spinning Room
Rotor spinning machine used to produce high-quality yarn with efficiency and precision.
12. Spinning Room
Open-end spinning machine designed for fast and efficient yarn production.
13. Spinning Room
Air jet spinning machine uses air to produce smooth and strong yarn, but the yarn is not as soft and is more prone to abrasion and pulling.
14. Combing Room
Combing machines used to remove short fibers and impurities, producing smoother and stronger yarn.
15. Combing Room
Clean cotton after passing through the carding area, ready for the next stage of processing.
16. Combing Room
Combing is a refining process that aligns fibers, removes short strands and impurities, and prepares the material for spinning into smoother, stronger yarn.
17. Dyeing Room
This area uses laser technology to craft custom finishes on fabric.
18. Dyeing Room
Dyed cotton rolls ready for fabric production.
19. Dyeing Room
The Cotton Inc. logo was etched onto this denim using laser technology.
20. Dyeing Room
This area showcases how lasers add unique texture and design details to fabric with accuracy and efficiency. Play video below:
To learn more about Cotton Incorporated, visit cottoninc.com.
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