Threads of Transformation: Reflecting on Five Years of the Wilson College of Textiles

By Kamilah Heslop

In the heart of the Wilson College of Textiles, a profound and enduring legacy is unfolding.

This fall marks five years since the Wilsons — a multigenerational NC State University textiles family — made a transformative gift of $28 million to their alma mater in 2018. This remarkable act of generosity did more than solely name the Wilson College of Textiles in perpetuity; it breathed new life into the college’s unyielding spirit of innovation and unwavering commitment to advancing the textile industry.

“Words cannot express the gratitude that our community feels for the Wilson family and their lifelong investment in textiles education, innovation and research,” says David Hinks, who serves as dean of the Wilson College of Textiles and the Cone Mills Distinguished Professor of Textile Chemistry. “From the day it was made, this gift has enabled the Wilson College to be a driving force in transforming lives and the U.S. textiles industry. In turn, our college has become an even stronger sustainable force for good for our society, in North Carolina and globally.”

As an unrestricted gift, the Wilsons’ support has been channeled toward the college’s strategic priorities and greatest needs, from student scholarships and fellowships, to faculty funding and cutting-edge equipment.

This is precisely the impact that Frederick “Fred” Wilson Jr. ’61, the family’s patriarch and their first Textiles graduate, wanted to make. 

“It was very important to give back to the institution that had provided me with the foundation and tools to be successful. It is my hope that this is the spark that fuels future generations to give back and continue to support the Wilson College of Textiles.”

— Fred Wilson Jr. ’61

“This came at a vital time when other universities had dissolved their textile programs, and there was an immediate need to secure the future of NC State’s textiles college,” Fred says, beaming. “It was very important to give back to the institution that had provided me with the foundation and tools to be successful. It is my hope that this is the spark that fuels future generations to give back and continue to support the Wilson College of Textiles.” 

When speaking with the family during a recent visit to campus in September, Chancellor Randy Woodson reflected on the long-term impact of their generosity. 

“The gift is not just a testament to Fred’s and the Wilson family’s deep-rooted commitment. This generous act reaffirms the Wilson College’s dedication to excellence and innovation,” Chancellor Woodson says. “Textiles have been an important part of our legacy for over a century, and the family’s investment has empowered us to continue that tradition of preparing students to thrive in the invigorated textile industry.”

The Wilson Textile Tradition

In the fall of 1957, Fred took his first steps on NC State’s sprawling campus, overjoyed to study at the then School of Textiles. 

Some would say that textiles ran in Fred’s blood, given his family’s strong ties to the industry. In 1938, his father, the late Frederick Eugene Wilson Sr., founded Piedmont Chemical Industries — a High Point-based company now known as the Syntha Group, which has expanded to include five subsidiaries. 

While he was a student on campus, Fred’s schedule was jam-packed. He balanced his time as a textile chemistry major and the leader of several student organizations, including Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Tau Sigma, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Psi, the Tompkins Textile Council, and the American Association of Textile Colorists and Chemists. He would go on to graduate in 1961.

More than two decades later, his children, Frederick “Rick” Wilson III ’87 and Elizabeth Creswell “Cres” Wilson Calabrese ’89, would walk across that same commencement stage to earn their own textile chemistry degrees. In 2016, Fred’s grandson and Rick’s son, Frederick “Rede” Eugene Wilson IV, continued the family tradition by completing his polymer and color chemistry degree. On May 4, 2024, Michael Calabrese, Cres’ stepson, will become the fifth member of the Wilson family to earn a textiles degree; a B.S. in fashion and textile management. 

Today, all four graduates work for Syntha Group. Rick serves as the firm’s CEO, Cres leads as vice chairman and chief strategy officer, Rede holds a position as the company’s sales manager, and Fred maintains his position as chairman of the board. 

The industry that connects them all — textiles — continues to be a part of their DNA, and their transformational gift to name their alma mater will forever be a point of pride for the Wilson family. 

“We love this university, and we love this college,” Rick emphasizes. “It has played a huge role in shaping both our family and our business. We wanted to make certain that our school had the assets necessary to maintain its position as the best textiles college on the planet. The gift was both an expression of gratitude for what this school has meant to our family and an expression of our confidence in the staff, faculty, academic programs, research and facilities.”

For Cres and Rede, that deep-seated school pride has blossomed into sharing the gift of their time and talents.

Cres proudly serves as the secretary of the North Carolina Textile Foundation’s board of directors. In this role, she provides expert insight to the dean and serves as a passionate steward of the foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Wilson College of Textiles and makes the college’s groundbreaking, industry-leading work possible. From 2019 to 2021, Rede led the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council as co-president. His invaluable leadership in the areas of alumni engagement and fundraising has supported Dean Hinks since the council’s establishment in 2017 when Rede first joined. 

“The U.S. textile industry will continue to be supplied with the talent and support it needs to remain successful. And more students will have the opportunity to be educated and trained in a world-class facility, regardless of their background or economic status. It truly means a bigger and brighter future for so many people.”

— Cres Wilson Calabrese ’89

“This five-year milestone means that the North Carolina Textile Foundation can provide the Wilson College with the support it needs to ensure future growth. Our college can continue to attract and retain top-notch faculty, staff and students,” Cres shares. “The U.S. textile industry will continue to be supplied with the talent and support it needs to remain successful. And more students will have the opportunity to be educated and trained in a world-class facility, regardless of their background or economic status. It truly means a bigger and brighter future for so many people.”

Rede echoes his aunt’s sentiment. 

“Textiles alumni have always had a unique pride in and gratitude for our college,” he says. “I find that now, more than ever, they are optimistic about the future of this remarkable college.”

An Impact That Pushes Boundaries

The Wilson family’s pride continues to grow as they learn of the new and ongoing advancements driven by their visionary investment in the Wilson College of Textiles.

• Expanding the College’s Global Reach
  • The Wilson family’s gift, which supported the Dean’s Textiles Innovation Fund and many other areas, facilitated sending 86 students, staff and faculty to Milan, Italy, to attend ITMA, the world’s largest textiles and garment exhibition.
    
• Combatting COVID-19
  • Utilizing funding from both NC State and the Wilson family’s contribution, the Nonwovens Institute produced life-saving masks for NC State faculty and staff to help protect the Wolfpack.
    
• Student Support
  • Thanks to the Wilson family’s support, the college’s brand-new embedded counselor addresses the critical mental health needs of textile students.
  • The ability to allocate resources to undergraduate tutoring has ensured that this service through the Peter R. Lord Tutoring Center can remain free for all Wilson College students.
    
• Recruitment
  • Elevated funding packages for graduate students and faculty members have attracted exceptional talent to the Wilson College of Textiles.
  • Paid research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, created through the Wilson family’s support, keep the next generation of textile leaders engaged and empowered.
    
• Establishing a Lifelong Connection
  • With support from the family’s gift, the Wilson College of Textiles is empowered to provide students and alumni with lifelong services for success through its Wilson for Life initiative.
  • Wilson for Life entails lifetime career services support, continuing education discounts from the Zeis Textiles Extension, global networking, and access to the Blend Mentorship Program.
    
• A Hub for Textiles Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • The college’s new Flex Factory, supported in part by the Wilson family’s gift which benefited the Dean’s Textiles Innovation Fund, will become the world’s most impactful ecosystem powering textile entrepreneurship and collaboration when it officially opens in December of 2025.
  • The factory’s Prototype Lab is currently under development with a plan to open phase 1 to customers in the summer of 2023.

Looking Forward to the Future

For five remarkable years, the Wilson family’s legacy has flourished, weaving its influence far beyond our campus, our state and our nation. 

This generosity has propelled innovation, fueled research and empowered countless students through various areas of support, including education, wellness and career-specific assistance. 

“The future holds even greater promise as we embrace the name ‘Wilson,’ a distinction that deepens the public’s appreciation of the textile industry and amplifies our global presence for generations to come.”

— Michael Ward, executive director of the North Carolina Textile Foundation

“As the world’s number one ranked textiles institution, the Wilson College of Textiles continuously pushes boundaries, and the Wilson family’s gift has made that possible,” says Michael Ward, executive director of the North Carolina Textile Foundation. “The future holds even greater promise as we embrace the name ‘Wilson,’ a distinction that deepens the public’s appreciation of the textile industry and amplifies our global presence for generations to come.” 

The future of the textile industry blazes brighter than ever, all thanks to the Wilson family’s transformative generosity. Each thread they’ve contributed is a testament to their enduring legacy.

This post was originally published in Wilson College of Textiles News.