Textile Insight

November/December 2017 ~ Textile Insight • 23 textileinsight.com MATTHEW CONGDON VP Design and Creative Director Mack Weldon As a driver of innova- tion and growth for Mack Weldon, Congdon is respon- sible for development and concept of expanding prod- uct from core underwear to a range of offerings includ- ing accessories and apparel styles. Previously Congdon held high-level design positions at Calvin Klein, Uniqlo, Perry Ellis and J. Crew. A design direction I'd like to explore is: New ways of manufacturing. I've always loved a factory floor and new innovations – very inspiring. 3D printing, moldable fabrics, smart fibers with integrated technology, plus a mix of local handicraft details. This feels new, sustainable, and exciting. A fabric I'm obsessed with right now is: Our new line of bags and accessories fabrics has been my latest obsession. On one of our trips we discovered an amazing factory that uses the latest in coated ripstop nylons that is suitable for bonded seams. Lightweight, durable, func- tional, technical – not to mention stylish – how could I not be obsessed? My fondest footwear memory from childhood is: My first pair of Doc Marten boots. I remember feeling like the coolest fifteen-year-old. Maybe it was because of their iconic punk look, maybe it was because my parents hated them – most likely the combination of both. I define "performance" as: Performance has almost become an overused buzzword. To me, Performance = Solutions. As a designer, I look for fabrics that bring real meaningful benefits. There's a lot of new technology out there – but if it doesn't feel comfortable while solving the needs of our ever-hectic lives then It's not really performing. A product design I'm most proud of is: I absolutely love Mack Weldon's AIRKNITx series. Re-inventing men's underwear is no small task - innovation has to blend seamlessly with familiarity. We created fabric that was breathable without being a typical mesh, lightweight stretch that was not sheer, and styling that looked classic and modern all at once. It quickly became my daily go to pair. I can't work unless I have: Team interaction. I really like the input, feedback, and collabora- tion. Of course, anyone who's worked with me can tell you… I also usually can't work without a Diet Coke! My design pet peeve is: I think I'm a bit of an anomaly amongst designers… I really like a focused, almost analytical approach. Any design that puts fashion before function is something I find off-putting. A textile I wish I had invented is: Cotton. I know, I know… it's been around since the dawn of textiles, but cotton's natural attributes, endless possibilities and comfort factor is why it will continue to be a mainstay. As we say on our team – "you can't out design mother nature." This is how I describe my creative process in 10 words or less: Less is more, details matter, and innovation should be intuitive. My best ideas derive from: Others. Listening is one of the most important design skills. Customers, people on the street, co-workers, salespeople…. it's all great to absorb, filter, and approach what we need right now. My favorite city in the world to shop is: New York will always be amazing for the sheer conflux of people and ideas. It's a great laboratory, really. I also find great inspiration in London. I love its ability to respect and re-invent menswear classics. The book currently on my nightstand is: I have a few going at the moment… Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion (a re-read), and my latest copy of the Atlantic. JOANNA TOMASINO Category Manager, Softgoods & Footwear Mammut USA Tomasino grew up skiing with her father and sisters at a young age and her pas- sion for the sport grew over the years. Her career in the outdoor industry began as a sales associate at JHMR, eventually moving up to Assistant Buyer. Next came a position as Buyer/Manager at Climb High, a prominent outdoor retailer owned by Mammut Sports Group, based in Vermont. Her current role is quite diverse, bringing Tomasino to Switzerland for product development meetings as well as Seattle quite frequently to head up the collaboration with REI. A fabric I'm obsessed with right now is: Pertex Quantum Air. My fondest clothing memory from childhood is: My CB jacket. My tech essential is: Uber lightweight stretch waterproof/breathable 7 oz. shell. I define "performance" as: Can I wear it in most conditions? I can't work unless I have: Coffee! Lots of coffee. My design pet peeve is: Not paying attention to the details. My best ideas derive from: Getting outside run- ning, biking, hiking or skiing where I can clear my head and think creatively. My favorite city in the world to shop is: Zurich. The book currently on my nightstand is: The Nest. MARK MCNEILL EVP Global Innovation Unifi McNeill is a 20-year vet- eran of Unifi and as a key member of the executive team has played a pivotal role in the development and commercial execution of Unifi's domestic and global expansion. In 2006, McNeill spearheaded the commer- cialization of Repreve; in 2010 he designed and managed installation and start-up of the Repreve Recycling Center; and recently led the conception and execution of the Repreve Bottle Processing Center. McNeill also led the company's global investment and expansion of the Unifi Asia Pacific network to include a presence in six countries. A design direction I'd like to explore is: Bi-component fibers. We have this capability now at Unifi, but we've just scratched the surface of the possibilities for this technology. My tech essential is: Not very high tech in today's world, but it's timeless… HP 32SII RPN Scientific. I define "performance" as: A feature that is mea- surable, inherent and permanent. This type of performance is something Unifi is continuing to invest in through our fiber technologies like Sorbtek moisture management and Reflexx stretch. A product design I'm most proud of is: Repreve fiber, 100 percent from recycled materials… recycled plastic bottles and recycled fibers. The sustainable aspect is something I'm proud of, but even more so, the technology we developed that makes it all possible. The process neces- sary to convert the materials we use into new, high-quality fibers that can be used in the most demanding textiles did not exist. Recycling of these materials has existed "forever," but the intent was never for these high-performing appli- cations, so the methods had to be reinvented. I can't work unless I have: A deadline. I always try to approach things with a sense of urgency. Either you "win the day" or your competition does. A textile I wish I had invented is: Multifunctional head and neckwear. Unifi has a great relation- ship with Buff… genius product. My best ideas derive from: Collaboration and a long list of experiences. You have to be inten- tional about creating internal and external partners for discussing ideas. You also have to be intentional about developing a range of experiences that expose you to different aspects of your business and other businesses. Ideas themselves can come easily, but you want a process that produces ideas that can be real- ized and monetized. The book currently on my nightstand is: Coconut Cowboy by Tim Dorsey.

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