After 33 years of creating, improving and implementing textile and textile-based finishes and finishing processes that have increased consumer satisfaction and demand for cotton apparel and home fabrics, Cotton Incorporated's Don Bailey wants to coach a little football and spend time with his family.

Most recent position

Most recently serving as vice-president of product development and implementation for the research and marketing company representing U.S. Upland cotton, Bailey has literally worked in every area of textile research at Cotton Incorporated during his career.

He also served as the coordinator for applied research in the Textile Extension Department at his alma alter, North Carolina State University, for two years.

Major influence

“Don has not only been an excellent manager, but his insight and knowledge of textiles and textile processes has been a major influence and one of the key reasons for many of the successes stemming from this important division of Cotton Incorporated,” commented Cotton Incorporated's President and CEO J. Berrye Worsham.

“We are grateful for his dedicated service to the organization and wish Don all the best in his retirement.”

During his tenure, Bailey has been a key leader in the fruition of many textile performance finishing innovations such as Wicking Windows, Storm Denim, Endure, Tough Cotton and others. His research also led to improved shrinkage control in cotton apparel — a long-standing consumer complaint about cotton's washing performance.

Garment dip process

Additionally, he was an active member in the development of the garment dip process for finishing applications on textiles and a founder of Cotton Incorporated's Fabricast fabric library system, which helps the organization showcase cotton's innovative abilities to retailers and brands worldwide.

More recently, Bailey's work led him to develop educational materials for the Cotton Board's Importer Support Program — in which he was a co-recipient with MindWorks MultiMedia of a Silver “Telly” award for his contributions in writing “The Art of Sweater Manufacturing” interactive learning CD.

Among his many other accomplishments, Bailey received the 1999-2000 Outstanding Extension Service Award for his service as an Adjunct Extension Professor at North Carolina State University, the ASQ Textile and Needle Trade Division's 2000 Paper of the Year Award for his “Engineered Garment Manufacturing” paper and Cotton Incorporated's 1988 True Performance Award. He is also the author for many technical papers published throughout his career.

“I've had a very fulfilling career with Cotton Incorporated,” says Bailey, “and I have great respect for the Cotton Research & Promotion Program and what it does on behalf of cotton producers and importers — all while providing consumers with highly innovative cotton products.”

The Cotton Research & Promotion Program is administered by the Cotton Board and conducted by Cotton Incorporated. Its mission is to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton. For more information, visit www.cottonboard.org and www.cottoninc.com.