AATCC Inkspired: Innovations in Textile Printing Conference 2025

David Hinks was born and raised in Derby, England. Hinks worked for Courtaulds Research from 1984 to 1986 prior to attending the University of Leeds, where earned a B.S. and Ph.D. in Colour Chemistry in 1989 and 1993, respectively. In 1993, he moved to NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles as a Post Doctoral Research Associate and later Visiting Assistant Professor investigating the genotoxicity of dyes and pigments. In 1996, David Hinks joined Milliken & Co. in Spartanburg, SC, as an R&D Chemist. In Fall 1998, he returned to NC State as Assistant Professor in the College of Textiles. In 2003, Hinks was promoted to Associate Professor and became the Program Director for the then new Polymer and Color Chemistry Program. He was promoted to Full Professor in 2009 and was named the Cone Mills Distinguished Professor of Textile Chemistry in 2010. The same year Hinks was appointed Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science and the Director of the University’s emerging Forensic Sciences Institute. In 2014, he was appointed as Interim Dean of the College of Textiles. In 2016, David Hinks was named Dean of the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University.

The apparel industry has been under fire from several fronts over the past few decades. Profitability, sustainability, workers’ rights, manufacturing logistics, supply chain constraints, fit, quality, and the lack of any point of view on style are among the wounds that are festering in the once-proud industry. This presentation will examine the apparel industry—past, present, and future—and provide the presenter’s opinion on what it will take to actually improve things (not just change them). Instead of doing the same old same old, new practices and technologies must allow employees to focus on solving problems and provide genuine improvement. If you are interested in how we can change the model from Concept to Consumer—and you see an opportunity to address a higher class of problem (instead of doing the same old same old), then don’t miss this session.

Learn about ways you can help ensure your success for the duration of your career.

Dr. Jan Beringer is the Senior Scientific Expert for Hohenstein. In this role, he uses an interdisciplinary approach to develop the comfort, fit and workmanship of garments, functionalization of fabrics, textile UV protection and textile reprocessing. He has extensive knowledge in textile and fiber chemistry, functionalization, nanotechnology, coating and finishing and clothing physiology. Dr. Beringer has also served Hohenstein as Head of the Innovative Textiles Center and Head of Research and Development for Function and Care, specializing in research and testing in the field. Dr. Beringer holds a Doctorate in Natural Sciences in Chemistry with a focus on Textile and Fiber Chemistry from the University of Stuttgart.

Krystle Moody Wood is the founder and principal consultant of Materevolve, LLC., a consultancy driven to lead the evolution of our materials world. Materevolve’s mission is to develop and scale innovative regenerative textile systems through the lens of soil, sea and circularity. Materevolve serves clients in industry, materials innovation, government, and non-profit by providing technical textile consulting, designing nature-forward experiential learning programs, and fostering crucial cross-sector collaborations. With a deep background in textile science, Krystle works with the Materevolve community in the areas of materials innovation, green chemistry, product development, and strategy building to address many of the sustainability challenges impacting our industry today. Krystle’s experience includes leading the development of innovative product and materials for global brands within the VF Corporation portfolio, building successful seed to shelf Climate Beneficial(TM) programs with Fibershed and iconic global sustainable brands, advising leading material innovation startups and natural fiber growers on how to build product systems and scale, and co-authoring a congressional Report on Microfiber Pollution with the EPA Trash Free Water Program and the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Krystle also enjoys curating and hosting impactful educational programming such as conferences, workshops, and custom hands-on learning experiences that connect textile and environmental science with solutions.

Steve Richardson is an associate professor of computer science at Brigham Young University and currently serves as the president of the Association for Machine Translation in the Americas (AMTA). He has been an active participant in the research and development of machine translation (MT) for more than four decades, working as manager of MT and […]