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Summer
Textiles Exploration Program (STEP)
Cynthia L. Istook, Ph.D.
Introduction
In an effort to acquaint
potential students with the variety of opportunities and experiences available
to them through the College of Textiles, Student Services developed the
Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP) with the support of the North
Carolina Textile Foundation. The program has grown to the point that more
than 100 rising juniors and seniors from U.S. High Schools have the opportunity
to spend a week on campus as virtually "real" students during
the summer. Students apply for the opportunity to attend the STEP program
and choose an area of exploration that interests them. Their list of choices
generally includes projects in the fields of apparel design, textile design,
textile management, textile chemistry, textile engineering, or textile
computer science. More students apply than are accepted to attend during
the four weeks that the program is offered during the summer. 
Students
arrive on campus on Sunday afternoon and are assigned roommates for the
room they will share in the dorm.
Figure 1. Body Scanning process.
They are introduced
to their sponsors, each other, the rules for the week, and spend time
getting acquainted and having fun on the first night. Monday morning they
start their first round of lectures that are offered by different members
of the faculty on a variety of subjects related to research in the College
of Textiles. They meet their project directors at lunch and begin work
on their specialized project during the afternoon. During the evening
hours they have the opportunity to go shopping, go to the movies, go swimming,
have a picnic, under the supervision of the sponsors. This schedule continues
through Thursday, with faculty lectures from 8-12am daily, and project
work from 1-5pm. On Friday, students are tested over the information presented
during the week and then make formal project presentations to their families
and guests after lunch. Those who pass the final exam and successfully
complete the program receive a certificate. 
While
the certificate is built up to be the high point at the end of the program,
it is actually the least important element.
Figure 2. Designing apparel using CAD.
The students benefit
from the opportunity to see, feel, and experience the College of Textiles
at NC State. They are able to establish a "real" image in their
minds of what it would be like to attend NC State. More importantly than
that, however, is the opportunity that each student has to work closely
with a faculty member towards the solution of a textile related problem.
These students have a unique opportunity to see and use new technologies,
under the direction of faculty who are excited about those technologies.
Hopefully, each student will get excited about the field and/or learn
something that will help them make good school and career choices.
Project Example: Apparel Design
As educators, it is imperative that we provide opportunities for our students to learn about and experience the new technologies that are being developed to benefit the industry.
Figure 3. Textile design aided by CAD specialist.
Opportunities are
provided for basic skill and knowledge building, as well as application
of technological advancements, so that the students will be valuable employees
for the industry. Towards that end, a project was developed that incorporated
new technologies in apparel design and product development.
The goal for the project period was to enable each student to create and
physically produce a garment that would fit their specific body and that
was made from their choice of fabric/design, within limitations.
Figure 4. Digital printing fabric designs.
Students a) were
introduced to the goals of the project and the idea of mass customization;
b) were 3-dimensionally body scanned using the [TC]2 Body Measurement
System (BMS); c) designed and made the patterns for their desired garment;
d) set up the automatic alteration process for their garment design; e)
created the desired textile design, printed it on fabric, steamed the
fabric, and prepared it for cutting; f) cut their customized garment marker
from their fabric using an automatic sample cutter; and g) constructed
and fit their final garments.
On the first
day of each session the students were: a) introduced to the goals of the
project and the idea of mass customization, b) safety trained in the apparel
design lab, c) 3-dimensionally body scanned using the (TC)2
BMS system (Figure 1), and d) introduced to the apparel design and textile
design decisions that would need to be made the next day.
Figure 5. Steaming fabric to "set" the print.
The second day of the project was spent selecting the garment design, making minor adjustments to get the look the student desired (changing necklines and lengths, adding slits and pockets, etc.), developing the size code tables based on their scanned measurements (Figure 2), and creating the desired textile design. A CAD specialist in apparel design or textile design assisted the students in each of these steps, although they were allowed and encouraged to do their own work, if they felt capable or inclined (Figure 3).
The students spent
the third day of the session printing their fabric designs (Figure 4)
and steaming
(Figure 5), drying, and preparing the fabric for cutting (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Preparing for cutting.
On the fourth day,
each student's customized garment marker was cut from his or her fabric,
using the Gerber Cutting Edge
Cutter (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Cutting the garment patterns.
The rest of the day
was spent constructing their garments and preparing a presentation to
be made to the other research groups (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Constructing the garment.
CONCLUSIONS
At the end of each
session, every student in the apparel design project had produced a garment
that fit him or her (Figure 9).
Regardless of anything else, the fact that the students survived the intensive
product development process, gained an understanding of new technologies,
and learned some rudimentary sewing skills qualified the project as a
success. Above and beyond that, however, is the fact that a significant
"connection" was made with NC State University, the College
of Textiles, research and teaching faculty members, graduate students
in the programs, new and exciting technologies, 
Figure 9. Final project presentation.
Student Services staff members, and potential future classmates from across the US (Figure 10). What a wonderful opportunity for high school students to discover exciting career opportunities!
Figure 10. The whole group.
College
of Textiles
P.O. Box 8301
Raleigh, NC 27695-8301
Telephone: (919) 515-6646
FAX: (919) 515-3733
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