Caitlyn Holt \u201912, \u201913 mr studied textiles all over the world during her time at NC State\u2009\u2014\u2009until it took her right back home. After she ran out of money in Hong Kong, finances dictated that Holt spend her next summer internship at home in Greensboro, N.C. That led her to Cone Denim, among the nation\u2019s largest denim manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She came home from her first day on the job telling her family she\u2019d work there forever. \u201cThat was 2011,\u201d Holt says. \u201cAnd 13 years later, I\u2019m still here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third generation of her family to work for Cone, Holt currently serves as director of product and business innovation, sustainability and marketing. \u201cI\u2019m in touch with a lot of different things, like looking at what\u2019s coming in three to five years, new innovations, how to make our plants more efficient and sustainable,\u201d Holt says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cone\u2019s three plants, located in Mexico and China, produce up to 100 million yards of fabric annually (a pair of jeans takes about a yard and a half of denim). The Kimes Ranch brand uses solely Cone fabric in its jeans, and the company also sells material to brands including Levi\u2019s, Wrangler and Lee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent years, denim has changed dramatically with the rise of stretchy material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n