Morganton, North Carolina, located in the heart of the state, has a rich history in textile manufacturing and innovation. However, like many rural American communities, the decline of manufacturing jobs has left many residents struggling to find employment that offers a living wage. In response to this challenge, The Industrial Commons (TIC) was established in 2015 with the goal of revitalizing the local economy and rebuilding a working-class community.
TIC operates a variety of programs aimed at addressing the economic challenges faced by the region. They provide frontline workers with the necessary skills, training, and education to achieve economic mobility in their rural area. Additionally, TIC works with businesses to create quality jobs with voice and agency, as well as converting existing businesses to employee ownership. They also establish social enterprises like the Carolina Textile District and Material Return, which provide quality, green jobs, promote environmental sustainability, and fill gaps in the textile value chain.
The innovative work of TIC caught the attention of the VF Foundation in 2021. The VF Foundation supported a collaboration between TIC’s Material Return and Carolina Textile District and VF’s Smartwool® brand for their Second Cut project. This project aimed to promote circularity within the product lifecycle by collecting used socks and transforming them into new, premium-grade products.
The Second Cut™ Project, launched in April 2021, encouraged customers to send back their used socks to Smartwool®. TIC’s Material Return utilized skilled fiber experts to repurpose these materials into new products, such as dog beds. By April 2023, the collaboration resulted in the creation of the first circular sock, showcasing the possibilities of circular fashion and earning the project the prestigious 2023 ISPO Award.
The success of Smartwool®’s Second Cut™ Project has not only influenced other brands but has also become a significant achievement within TIC’s broader mission. This success has attracted further support and scaling opportunities, including a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to fuel their innovative initiatives.
As a nationally recognized model for a circular economy, The Industrial Commons has trained over 3,700 workers through its programs. By forming strategic partnerships and empowering workers and communities, TIC is reshaping economic narratives in Western North Carolina. Looking towards the future, TIC aims to expand its impact by creating more employee-owned social enterprises and industrial cooperatives, with the goal of eradicating generational poverty and fostering an inclusive economy.
With the support of Smartwool® and the VF Foundation, TIC’s transformative initiatives serve as a blueprint for creating a future where communities thrive, businesses flourish, and young people are inspired to stay and build their futures.