Textile Insight

textileinsight.com Spring 2023 ~ Textile Insight • 43 AMBER BROOKMAN, INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZER, FORMER CEO BROOKWOOD COS., INC. that jacket because it uses less H20 in the manufacturing process?' If a consumer is shopping online for a jacket, they are looking for style, color, function with the added benefit of a sustainability story. While we respect compliance that comes with sustainability and performance and responsibility of manufacturing, there is a new level of compliance over the past 10 years that requires a constant need for data and testing for supply chain information that may be taking time away from innovation. Textile engineering and lab specialists now are spending more time on compliance requirements than playing around with new concepts." On Supply Chain: "When outdoor was growing and finding its groove it was a U.S. market, you were a phone call or a fax away from your supply chain partners. e upheaval to Asia le a big void, and the years from 1998 to 2002-03 was a very challenging period. With a global economy taking shape, we expanded Concept III from a domestic resource to an international one during the 90s when we began looking overseas for new partnerships. e advent of today's supply chain, with so much done in Asia, has changed things. With a focus on volume and a price-driven strategy, there is less adventure in today's supply chain to inspire outdoor textile innovation." On What's Next: "ere's been more going on in athleisure and urban wear recently, than in traditional outdoor. But I sense we might be turning a corner. Workwear is growing rapidly and mid-layer is a category to watch. I see an extension of fleece or sherpa and growth in performance knits — something between midlayer shirts and a lightweight sweatshirt jersey. ere's lots of passion in the industry, but also fear of taking a risk, and that a garment might 'fail.' However, I feel optimistic as long as companies find collaboration and unity in development of new innovative product and good marketing to support it." n SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS WITH STYLE & SAVVY T o go from fashion model to CEO of a multi-million dollar textile company is an impressive leap, but Amber Brookman has always been up for a challenge. She's made strides as a woman executive, a business leader, a fabric innovator and an experienced hiker, having summited Mt Rainier twice, all the while carving a path forward for her successful U.S.-based textile converter and finishing company. "You've got to take chances," says Brookman. "I run at life with my arms open wide and I'm not afraid of anything." Brookman's fabric interest began when she joined nylon producer Allied Chemical, now AlliedSignal, in 1975 working as a Fashion Design Coordinator. At the time it was a newly created position in the marketing department of the firm's fiber division, a job that involved covering several high-fashion events including the Paris Collections. Brookman quickly moved up to the role of Merchandising Manager – Outdoor and began marketing a new Allied yarn, a 430 denier nylon, to a nascent outdoor community of startups and adventure en- thusiasts. Her responsibilities grew as the outdoor industry started to boom and within a few years Brookman was lead- ing marketing campaigns for Mt. Everest Assaults with climbers outfitted with gear that featured performance nylons intro- duced by Brookman. In 1984 Brookman launched her own division — Amber Brookman Fabrics — at Coated Sales, a small NYC-based con- verter, and Allied customer, which under Brookman's leadership shifted from an industrial focus to find solid growth within the outdoor sector. However, a few years later, when Coated Sales began experiencing financial diffi- culties, Brookman, the newly- appointed COO, was tasked with taking the company through, and out of, bankruptcy. When

• Cover