Under Armour and North Carolina State University have launched a partnership that will support student development, commercialize research and advance textile and materials innovation across the apparel, footwear and accessories industries.
The Baltimore-based Steph Curry partner has opened an innovation center on NC State’s Centennial Campus where Under Armour employees work alongside university researchers. The partners have also signed a master research agreement to quickly get new discoveries to market. Collaborative projects will develop innovative solutions to support athletes on their journey to compete, while also improving the industry’s environmental impact.
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“At Under Armour, we are committed to creating performance solutions for athletes that they never knew they needed and can’t imagine living without,” said Lisa Collier, chief product officer at Under Armour. “This commitment requires a laser focus on innovation. We are proud to partner with NC State, a top research university, to help us create cutting-edge fabrics that not only perform for athletes, but are also in line with our value to act sustainably.”
NC State is a strategic partner for Under Armour’s innovation team thanks to the university’s strong talent pipeline, highly regarded academic programs and strategic location. North Carolina is the epicenter of textile manufacturing in the U.S. and NC State is home to one of the nation’s top institutions for nonwovens and textiles.
“The addition of Under Armour on campus will result in meaningful experiences for our faculty and students,” said NC State chancellor Randy Woodson. “Through shared expertise, we look forward to strengthening textiles innovation, improving sustainability and developing future leaders for the industry.”
Under Armour expects to invest more than $1 million in research with NC State over the next year. Research and development collaborations with the Nonwovens Institute (NWI)—an academic program for the field of engineered fabrics—aims to commercialize breakthroughs.
“Transformative innovation is driven by partnerships between industry and academia,” said Behnam Pourdeyhimi, executive director of NWI, and associate dean and William A. Klopman distinguished professor. “Our collaborations with Under Armour will rethink the future of fiber and materials to develop new solutions.”
In addition, working with researchers in the Wilson College of Textiles, Under Armour will conduct rigorous testing to ensure top fabric performance and endurance.
“The longstanding partnership with Under Armour powers innovative research and enables our students’ personal and professional development,” said Wilson College of Textiles dean David Hinks. “Dozens of our graduates now enjoy impactful careers at Under Armour. Having Under Armour embedded in our Centennial Campus will help us further prepare students to become leaders in the textiles and apparel industry. This win-win partnership is an example of what makes Centennial Campus a very special place.”
In a class project previously sponsored by Under Armour, students developed a material that repurposed down insulation waste that typically ends up in landfills. The students then created a jacket prototype using the reclaimed material.
The partnership is also paving the way for unconventional projects in the College of Design. Last spring, Under Armour donated 12,000 yards of fabric, equivalent to the length of 119 football fields, that was used for Art2Wear, NC State’s annual student-run production that spotlights works of wearable art.
“The Under Armour Challenge gave our students an opportunity to work with professional-grade materials in very original ways,” added Derek Ham, department head of Art + Design in the College of Design. “The high-quality fabric allowed the students to design pieces that required technical knowledge while enabling them to push the boundaries of their own creativity.”
NC State noted that university-industry partnerships help develop a strong talent pool for recruiting. Under Armour has hired many graduates over the years, with 30 alumni currently employed.
“It’s a privilege to partner with my alma mater and the incredible students, faculty and staff at NC State to support the Under Armour innovation team,” Kyle Blakely, senior vice president of innovation at Under Armour, said. “NC State’s Think and Do culture resonates with our approach, making this a very natural partnership. We are dedicated to performance-led innovation, with athletes at the center of everything we do, and we could not ask for a better partner than NC State.”
As Under Armour’s liaison to the university, NC State’s Office of Partnerships matches the company with talent and research. Looking ahead, both organizations underscore the potential to develop new solutions and prepare students for the future.
