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The Wilson College of Textiles: Remembering Dr. Andre West

Textile World 新闻2026-09-20 04:12查看原文 ↗

✦产业研判

产业概括：纺织教育家Andre West逝世，行业人才培育引关注

Textile World Breaking News People RALEIGH, NC — September 17, 2026 — The Wilson College of Textiles is mourning the loss of professor and former director of Zeis Textiles Extension, Andre West. A beloved colleague, mentor and friend whose

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RALEIGH, NC — September 17, 2026 — The Wilson College of Textiles is mourning the loss of professor and former director of Zeis Textiles Extension, Andre West. A beloved colleague, mentor and friend whose creativity, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit left an enduring mark on the college and the people who knew him.

Throughout his career, West had a gift for seeing possibility — in ideas and, most importantly in people. He was known for bringing ideas to life and for creating opportunities for students and colleagues to step forward, take risks and receive recognition for their own work.

A Career in Textiles

West earned his B.S. in textile design from the University of Huddersfield in England. In 2009, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in visual arts from Miami International University of Art and Design followed by his Doctorate in Education in 2012.

For over 40 years, West worked in the textiles industry through fashion trend forecasting, fashion and textile design, manufacturing and retailing. He began his career in London, England as a trend forecaster and designer before moving to Florida. There, he had various professional experiences with places like the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Fashion Week and the Knit Design Group, Inc.

His career eventually brought him to NC State in 2013 as an assistant professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, advancing to associate professor in 2019 and then full professor in 2024. In 2019, he was named director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE).

Across those roles, West built a legacy that extended far beyond his own accomplishments. West built a legacy of service not only across the Wilson College and NC State communities, but also worldwide. He will be remembered by faculty and students as a champion for others’ success.

Research and Student Support

West’s research focused primarily on integrating technology into the textile and apparel industry.

He worked across disciplines, through apparel and fashion design, textile electronics, technical knit design and more. West also led several fashion shows when he was a professor, impacting and leading the creative minds of future designers and creators.

Ritika Shamdasani’23, said West created an environment where students feel supported in every aspect of their academic growth.

He supported students outside of the classroom as well. By taking a holistic approach to his work, he established the Greater Good Textile Group, a student-led organization dedicated to sustainability and advocating for the ethical treatment of textile industry workers. He also helped form the Latinos Unidos en Textiles student organization and acted as the group’s faculty advisor.

West received several awards during his tenure, including international recognition for collaborating with researchers from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Entomology Departme