• The designer who can express what he/she is looking for graphically, but cannot articulate that need technically to the production company. The textile professional works hand-in-hand with the designer to create the aesthetics and performance that the fashion designer seeks.
• The importing company cannot correctly respond to off-quality product claims, and the liability assignment that must take place. The textile professional defends and protects the company from "double-talk" by the suppliers, and third-party uncertified laboratories.
• The importing company who finds that they are nothing more than "middleman expediters", because they don't know how to build differential advantage into their product, and will become extinct when retailers improve direct sourcing. The textile professional adds value to this equation by creating cost-effective options, by understanding what is possible and feasible.
• The retailer who has decided to source directly from producing countries (i.e. Wal-Mart), who decides to specify the product prior to offering requests for manufacturing proposals, as in reverse auctions.¹ In order to specify the product, those developing the products must be fluent in textiles. The textile professional develops and modifies the specifications on the demand side (retailer) that will be put out for bid. On the supply side of this equation, the textile professional understands ways to accomplish the same goals with improved pricing, though product knowledge and an understanding of application.
• The retailer who chooses to grow the private label portion of any portion of a fabric-based product relies on the textile professional day in and day out.
• The removal of quota and subsidies has created opportunities in emerging markets (i.e. Mumbai, Istanbul, Moscow), where different cultures, traditions and even weather will require special fabrications. The textile professional understands how to build appropriate properties into fabrics for unique applications.
• A large portion of our students are from places other than the U.S. Being "fluent" in textile terminology is a universal language. The textile professional is comfortable in any country, when conversing about the subject.

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