GREENSBORO, N.C. – VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, has selected Greensboro’s Gateway University Research Park, a collaboration between North Carolina A&T State University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, as the location for its Global Jeanswear Innovation Center.
The VF facility will be the catalyst for new technologies and advancements that will improve all aspects of denim – from fiber, yarn, fabric, finishing and design all the way to the finished product for brands such as Wrangler®, Lee®, 7 For All Mankind®, Nautica® and Vans®.
“A constant focus on innovation has enabled VF to remain a leader in the apparel industry for more than 115 years, and our Global Innovation Center strategy accelerates our innovation agenda to guide us into the future,” said Eric Wiseman, VF’s Chairman, President and CEO. “Partnering with Gateway University Research Park allows us to combine the universities’ world-class talent and research equipment with our expertise to deliver consistent, breakthrough innovation for consumers globally.”
Gateway University Research Park was designed to facilitate collaborations between researchers and businesses. Through the universities’ Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Gateway University Research Park provides access to state-of-the-art capabilities for product development, analytical services, materials testing, analysis and evaluation.
“Through this partnership, we have the unique opportunity to help a world-class company bring to life innovations that are ultimately transferred into must-have apparel for consumers,” said John Merrill, executive director of Gateway University Research Park. “We’re ecstatic to have VF on board and hope to use this collaboration as a model for working with more local businesses moving forward. This partnership is a perfect example of what was intended when the Universities and the State invested in Gateway.”
Located on the research park’s campus, VF’s Global Jeanswear Innovation Center will be home to teams of chemists, scientists, engineers and designers who will combine their expertise to develop innovative materials for VF’s many brands. The Innovation Center is expected to create approximately 30 new jobs for the area by the end of 2016.
VF’s Global Innovation Center strategy, introduced in 2013, includes two more Centers in addition to the Greensboro location: the Performance Apparel Innovation Center in Alameda, Calif.; and the Footwear Innovation Center in Stratham, N.H.
About VF
VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) is a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories. The company’s highly diversified portfolio of 30 powerful brands spans numerous geographies, product categories, consumer demographics and sales channels, giving VF a unique industry position and the ability to create sustainable, long-term growth for our customers and shareholders. The company’s largest brands are The North Face®, Vans®, Timberland®, Wrangler®, Lee® and Nautica®. For more information, visit www.vfc.com.
About Gateway University Research Park
Gateway University Research Park is a partnership between North Carolina A&T State University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro for the purposes of research and economic development within the Triad. The Universities’ mission is to develop state-of-the-art research facilities for cutting-edge work in the life and physical sciences, engineering, technology and other applied areas. Gateway University Research Park is envisioned as a premier center for basic and applied research, with the potential for the incubation and development of new technologies. For those who may be interested, Gateway has numerous leasing options at its North and South Campuses. For more information, visit www.GatewayURP.com.
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