South Korean global apparel manufacturer Hansae Fashion Worldwide has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, based in Raleigh, N.C., to boost the U.S. textile sector.
The MOU calls for Hansae and Wilson to offer several opportunities to students and graduates, through their school-to-work program, including trips to visit Hansae’s Vietnam facilities. The agreement also includes plans for mid-to- long-term programs, such as joint projects between various industry and university bodies, academic seminars on fashion trends and technologies, and development of new textile materials. The MOU also allows Hansae to officially sponsor the university’s student-run magazine.
Kim Ik Whan, CEO of Hansae, said, “Hansae is pursuing mutual development with Wilson College. Beyond sharing knowledge through varied projects, our MOU with Wilson/NCSU will lay the groundwork to discover and foster new talent in the American textile industry.”
Established in 1982, Hansae has grown through specialized apparel exporting to now include 14 global corporations in six countries–Vietnam, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar and Haiti–and more than 700 employees in its Seoul headquarters and 35,000 people working in New York and other manufacturing locations.
Hansae aims to evolve into an innovative fashion design company by transitioning from an Original Design Manufacturing and Original Equipment Manufacturing, or ODM-OEM, to become a “global fashion specialized company.”
Created to support North Carolina’s textile industry, the Wilson College of Textiles offers hands-on, science-based textile education through two departments: Textile and Apparel Technology and Management, and Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science.
Students receive one-on-one mentoring from faculty and conduct undergraduate and graduate research in more than 200,000 square feet of state-of-the-art teaching, research, manufacturing and collaborative spaces. Students gain valuable work experience through summer internships, embark on international experiences across 30 countries and six continents, and leverage academic and experiential real-world learning experiences through industry partnerships.