A new grant will provide around 240 Washington State University students with access to high-tech resources and funding for competitions that focus on sustainable clothing and apparel production.
WSU’s apparel, merchandising, design, and textiles (AMDT) department received the nearly $40,000 grant from Cotton Inc., the research and marketing company representing the U.S. cotton industry.
During the 2025 calendar year, students in seven AMDT classes will use the funds to access resources at Cotton Inc. Students will also work on group projects with specific sustainable goals. The best groups will win prizes from the grant, said Yini Chen, AMDT assistant professor and the grant’s primary investigator.
“Students can use resources from the grant to solve real problems using critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills,” Chen said.
Sustainability and circular fashion are a primary focus of WSU’s AMDT program. Throughout their courses, students learn how to create a system where clothing is designed, produced, used, and then recycled or repurposed in a way that minimizes waste and reduces environmental impact.
The new grant will also fund a student trip to Cotton Inc.’s North Carolina headquarters. Around 20 students will travel there in early fall 2025 for a firsthand look at some of the nonprofit’s research.
“When you learn something in a class, you don’t generally talk with the people in the industry doing the work,” Chen said. “On this visit, students will see machinery and how the procedures they’re learning about in class work in the real world.”
The students will witness every step in the production process, from raw cotton entering the building to tests that measure the quality and strength of the fabrics produced. They’ll also be able to network with people in the industry, she said.
“All of our students will benefit from this grant,” Chen said. “The access to technology and other resources will be so helpful. We’re excited to get started.”
