NCTO Elects New Leadership: Signals for the U.S. Textile Industry

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the leading U.S. trade association representing the full spectrum of the domestic textile industry from fiber to finished sewn products, held its officer elections for fiscal year 2026 during its annual meeting from April 14-16. Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and founder of MMI Textiles, was elected as Chair, and Jay Todd as Vice Chair. This leadership change comes at a critical juncture for the U.S. textile sector, which faces ongoing supply chain restructuring, shifting trade policies, and growing demands for sustainability and traceability.

Background and New Leadership

NCTO's annual meeting and elections traditionally serve as a barometer for the industry's strategic direction. The current backdrop includes a concerted push for manufacturing reshoring, accelerating nearshoring trends within the Western Hemisphere, and increasingly stringent sustainability and traceability standards affecting global trade. Amy Bircher Bruyn's leadership of MMI Textiles, a company known for functional and military-grade fabrics, suggests that the association may prioritize technological innovation and the competitiveness of specialty textiles. The election of Jay Todd as Vice Chair also underscores the organization's focus on leadership development. In the previous fiscal year, NCTO actively lobbied on issues including textile provisions in the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, rules of origin in Western Hemisphere trade agreements, and stricter enforcement of 'Made in USA' labeling. The new leadership team is expected to continue and deepen these policy agendas.

Industry Implications: Signals for Manufacturing and Trade

The election of the new Chair signals a continued commitment by the U.S. textile industry to bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities. MMI Textiles' business profile indicates that NCTO may intensify efforts to secure federal procurement contracts and R&D support for technical textiles, protective gear, and military-use fabrics. For traditional textile companies relying on commodity products, this means the importance of differentiation will only increase. Furthermore, the leadership change could accelerate the integration of the Western Hemisphere textile supply chain. U.S. brands and retailers are increasingly sourcing finished goods from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean to shorten lead times and mitigate geopolitical risks. Whether the new leadership can secure favorable rules of origin for U.S.-made yarns and fabrics under CAFTA-DR and USMCA will be a key focus in the coming two years. Finally, sustainability and transparency are expected to become new focal points. With the EU and various U.S. states introducing legislation on textile environmental footprints, NCTO is likely to push for a traceability standard system tailored to the U.S. industry, helping to counter potential barriers from external regulations like the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.

Practical Advice

For Buyers - Monitor NCTO's policy advocacy under the new leadership, particularly regarding changes to rules of origin and 'Made in USA' labeling, as these could impact the cost and compliance requirements of U.S.-sourced fabrics. - Evaluate partnerships with technical textile suppliers similar to MMI Textiles to prepare for potential growth in orders for military, industrial, or high-performance fabrics. - Include flexibility for sustainability clauses in long-term contracts, as NCTO is likely to push for unified environmental disclosure standards that will raise compliance expectations for downstream buyers.

For Exporters - If your company exports fabrics or finished goods to the U.S. market, closely monitor NCTO's stance on Western Hemisphere trade agreements. Stricter rules of origin could lead to higher tariff barriers for intermediate goods from outside the region. - Consider forming joint ventures or technical collaborations with U.S. technical textile firms to leverage the new leadership's focus on innovation and gain access to U.S. government procurement supply chains. - Proactively establish systems to calculate product carbon and water footprints, as NCTO's moves on sustainability standards are likely to align with the demands of U.S. importers; early compliance will translate into market access advantages.