Importer Support Education Program

Importer Support Education Workshops

The education workshops are sponsored by the Importer Support Program of the Cotton Board and are managed by Cotton Incorporated. This unique Program has been specifically designed to address the needs of the importers of cotton and its products.

Cotton Incorporated is a non-profit organization dedicated to “increase the demand for and profitability of cotton through research and promotion.” The Cotton Board reviews and approves Cotton Incorporated’s annual program and budget, and collects the assessments that fund us. Importers of U.S cotton and cotton products and U.S. cotton growers are assessed a fee. For importers, this assessment is collected at the time of entry by U.S. Customs and transmitted to the Cotton Board. Cotton Incorporated devotes a certain percentage of annual importer collections for importer-specific programs. These initiatives are organized under the Importer Support Program.

Cotton Incorporated has developed education workshops, which cover everything from fiber to finished fabric. They are: dyeing and finishing; knitting; weaving; sweater manufacturing; denim manufacturing; quality assurance; cotton textile fundamentals; basic fabric analysis; color standards and measurements; field-to-fabric; denim garment finishing; printing. The availability of these workshops can change based on demand. Throughout the year, we may add or delete workshops. Not all of the workshops may be presented in one year.

These workshops are held in different locations: one location is Cotton Incorporated’s facility in Cary, NC, and the other location is at hotels in cities throughout the U.S. The same material is taught at both workshops. The advantage of the Cary workshops is the hands-on demonstrations in our state-of-the-art laboratories. All workshops are taught by experienced industry professionals.

There is no registration fee for these workshops. The Program pays for conference costs and lunch each day. If you attend in Cary, it also pays for one group dinner. Attendees are responsible for all other costs.

For information on the workshops, contact Kelly Benge.