VF has formed a new partnership with North Carolina State University that will advance apparel and textiles innovation, while also creating new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

The collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship between VF and the College of Textiles. The partnership is strengthened by business analytics and supply chain management expertise from NC State’s Poole College of Management.

The new partnership will also provide executive education opportunities for VF associates and offer education and training activities for students, including internships, student projects and competitions. It will also facilitate industry-leading research that will elevate apparel and textile products and experiences.

“VF is proud to partner with NC State University, one of the world’s top universities and home to the only College in the United States devoted entirely to textiles,” said Steve Rendle, Chairman, President and CEO, VF. “Through our shared expertise in research and consumer insights, we aim to stimulate apparel innovation while also developing a consistent pipeline of exceptional leaders for our company.”

As part of the agreement, VF will establish a presence in a collaborative space on Centennial Campus, NC State’s nationally recognized research campus. There, students, faculty and VF associates will work together to solve challenges and accelerate innovation.

VF and NC State have partnered on projects in the past. In 2016, for example, five graduate students studying data science participated in an inventory optimization project and audited how The North Face® approached inventory for the brand’s brick-and-mortar stores and its e-commerce platform.

“With many College of Textiles alumni working and thriving at VF, we could not be more pleased to be building on our partnership,” said David Hinks, dean at the College of Textiles. “The addition of VF on campus and the ability of students and faculty from both the College of Textiles and Poole College of Management to work shoulder-to-shoulder with VF personnel will bring new avenues to advance textiles, apparel and footwear.”

VF and NC State plan to announce additional initiatives in the future.