Kavita Mathur

���Cotton: Feel Good, Do Good��� will challenge textile students to create a lifestyle for the home environment that extends to leisure and athleisure wear, and that encompasses the comfort, aesthetics and performance demanded by modern consumers. Today, consumers want high performing, high-tech products, but at the same time they also want comfort and confidence in knowing they are making sustainable choices. Special lectures with industry experts, workshops, and field trips will be added to existing courses to increase students' awareness and understanding of cotton fiber, yarns, materials and performance finishes. This project will involve: a) the development of teaching content centered on cotton fiber characteristics, novel fabrication, performance technologies, and industry testing standards, b) experiential learning experiences through field trips and presentations by industry experts, c) student projects involving innovative woven, knitted and printed cotton fabrics and products centered around the natural advantages of cotton fibers and performance technologies, and their functional attributes and aesthetic qualities in home and apparel products, and d) student participation in a design and presentation competition. Through engaging with project activities, students will advance their understanding of and appreciation for performance cotton and its value in textile products. Approximately 200 students will be directly involved in the project through classes, and more students will benefit through activities and student outputs. The project will culminate in exhibitions of student work in partnership with an industry conference where it can be experienced by the larger textile community.

The goal of this research project is to conduct a time and motion study to compare the design and usability performance of K���������ze Duvet technology (new duvet design) with four different incumbent duvet designs in the market.

����������������Cotton, Circularity and the Industry Gone Digital��������������� will engage students in a competition and exhibition centered on the theme of cotton and circularity in a digital industry. In the wake of a global pandemic, the use of digital visualizations, simulations, and 3D representations has dramatically increased in textile-related fields, creating novel challenges for cotton and cotton rich products, which are so highly valued for their tactile attributes. How do we convey the fundamental, intrinsic qualities and strengths of cotton in a digital landscape? For the competition, students will address cotton sustainability and the use of 3D design/simulation in developing innovative, unique cotton fabrics and products. This project will involve: a) development of teaching content, b) experiential learning opportunities, c) student development of innovative cotton fabrics and products, d) student development of virtual presentations showcasing their cotton and cotton rich products and creation process, and e) student participation in a design/presentation competition. Through engaging with project activities, textile and apparel students will advance their understanding of and appreciation for cotton and its value in textiles and products. Approximately 200 students will be directly involved in the project through classes, and more students will benefit through project activities and student outputs. The project will culminate in an exhibition of student work and reception/award ceremony on NC State campus where it can be experienced by the larger campus community.

The overarching goal of this project is to enable engineered manufacturing of sewn and embroidered e-textiles. It can be achieved by conducting sewability assessment of commercially available conductive yarns and providing optimal sewing parameters to ensure electrical performance and mechanical durability.

The goal of this research is to demonstrate the manufacture of hemp-based fabrics for soldier military garments. Ideally, garments should comprise greater than or equal to 50% hemp and demonstrate superior performance to control cotton-based fabrics.

����������������Cotton for Universal Design��������������� will engage students in a textile design competition and exhibition centered on the theme of universal design. Also referred to as inclusive design, universal design is used to create safe and accessible environments for the broadest spectrum of people. Given the versatility and durable nature of cotton fiber, as well as its advantage in providing comfort both aesthetically and functionally, cotton fabrics are uniquely suited to address a wide range of needs. For the competition, students will choose from one of three design briefs to develop innovative cotton fabrics and products for the home that encompass comfort, aesthetics, and performance. The design briefs will be categorized by three lifestage household groups: 1. Younger Years: Emerging professionals, college students 2. Family Life: Homes with infants, children, or tweens/teens 3. Mature Years: Empty nesters, retirees, elderly Students will be challenged to research the needs of a population to determine how cotton textile products can be developed to support the health and well-being of a chosen demographic. Lectures with industry experts, workshops, and field trips will be added to existing courses to increase students������������������ awareness and understanding of cotton fiber, yarns, materials, consumer needs, and performance finishes. In addition, we will educate students about cotton rich products that meet the needs of all people, regardless of age, size, ability or disability. This project will involve: a) the development of teaching content centered on cotton production and products in the United States and how they relate to universal design concepts, cotton fiber production, fiber characteristics, global supply chain, sustainability, novel fabrication and performance technologies, b) real time learning experiences through virtual presentations by industry experts and in-person or virtual field trips, c) student development of innovative woven, knitted and printed cotton fabrics and products centered around the theme of universal design, natural advantages of cotton fibers, functional attributes and aesthetic qualities in decorative home furnishings, and d) student participation in an online competition. The project will culminate in an exhibition of student work and award ceremony held online, or at ITA SHOWTIME in High Point, N.C. in November 2021.

The goal of this research project is to conduct a randomized controlled study to compare bed making performance using a new bedding design with three different incumbent bedding products in a hotel setting. This will be accomplished by conducting: ���������������� Time and Motion study to compare and contrast the time and energy savings between the different types of bedding ���������������� Ergonomic study to determine if the new bedding provides an opportunity for reducing occupational safety and risks associated with the repetitive motions required for this task

The survival rate of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 on environmental surfaces varies from minutes up to three days. Studies highlight the role of such surfaces in the chain of transmission of the viral pathogens, and consequently in epidemics and pandemics. There is little evidence about the influence of soft surfaces, textiles, in cross-contamination. Based on literature, it appears that viable human coronavirus, specifically SARS-CoV-2, may persist on textiles for up to two days in some circumstances. Most studies so far have focused on hard surfaces but, considering the complexity of textile materials due to their type and varied ways of construction, those findings cannot necessarily be applied to soft materials. In their current form, these textiles can host and spread bioaerosols, allergens, bacteria, and viruses, and can promote cross contamination. In addition, the reusable textile-based personal protective equipment (PPE) and patient care textiles found in healthcare are never characterized nor modeled to quantify their contribution to the development and spread of pathogens. The rise of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses has created a demand for anti-viral technologies that can mitigate the risk by simply creating an antimicrobial/antiviral bio-barrier on textiles to prevent microbes and viruses from attaching to them. This initial pilot study will focus on the persistence of viral contamination on a subset of textile surfaces. More specifically, we will first focus on general textiles such as linen sheeting materials that are commonly used in healthcare settings. Additional materials, such as those used in masks and other PPE will be included in follow-on studies. The objective of this pilot study is to develop a proof-of-concept protocol aimed at evaluating the persistence of viral contamination on textile surfaces.

����������������Leveraging Heritage and Delivering High Performance Textiles��������������� will challenge textile students to find inspiration from historic United States Cotton products and re-interpret them for the high performance needs of today's home products. Building off the success of our last proposal ����������������Fiber to Fabric for Home Furnishings,��������������� this project will encourage students to develop innovative cotton fabrics and products for the home that encompass the comfort, aesthetics and performance demanded by modern lifestyles and consumers while additionally learning from the history of Cotton Production. Special lectures with industry experts, workshops, and field trips will be added to existing courses to increase student������������������s awareness and understanding of cotton fiber, yarns, materials and performance finishes as well as the historical development of cotton rich products in the United States. This project will involve: a) the development of teaching content centered on cotton fiber history, production, fiber characteristics, global supply chain, sustainability, novel fabrication and performance technologies, b) real time learning experiences through field trips and presentations by industry experts, c) student development of innovative woven, knitted and printed cotton fabrics and products centered around the natural advantages of cotton fibers, functional attributes and aesthetic qualities in decorative home furnishings, and d) student participation in Home Furnishing related events. The project will culminate in an installation of student work at ITA SHOWTIME in High Point, N.C. on November 15-17, 2020. (http://internationaltextilealliance.org/showtime/).

����������������Fiber to Fabric for Home Furnishings��������������� will challenge textile students to develop innovative cotton fabrics and products for the home that encompass the comfort, aesthetics and performance demanded by modern lifestyles and consumers. Special lectures with industry experts, workshops, and field trips will be added to existing courses to increase student������������������s awareness and understanding of cotton fiber, yarns, materials and performance finishes. This project will involve: a) the development of teaching content centered on cotton fiber production, fiber characteristics, global supply chain, sustainability, novel fabrication and performance technologies, b) real time learning experiences through field trips and presentations by industry experts, c) student development of innovative woven, knitted and printed cotton fabrics and products centered around the natural advantages of cotton fibers, functional attributes and aesthetic qualities in decorative home furnishings, and d) student participation in Home Furnishing related events. The project will culminate in an installation of student work at ITA SHOWTIME in High Point, N.C. on December 8 ������������������ 11, 2019 (http://internationaltextilealliance.org/showtime/).