Engineering Pioneer Hannah Orlowski Prepares for Top-tier Success in 2019
Hannah Orlowski, a product development engineer at Contempora Fabrics, has made a name for herself in the textile industry. Specializing in reverse engineering fabrics, Hannah is one of the key figures at this premier knit fabric manufacturer in the U.S.
Hannah's clients include some of the biggest names in the fashion and sports industries, such as Nike, Fanatics, J. Crew, and Major League Baseball, for whom she is the official supplier of uniforms.
Hannah's journey in textile engineering began at the Wilson College of Textiles, where she acquired a combination of technical, design, and leadership skills essential for the textile industry. The college's curriculum, with its emphasis on fabric rendering and styling tailored for different occasions, instilled in Hannah a deep understanding of fabric characteristics and visual representation.
In addition to technical expertise, Hannah also developed strong communication, group dynamics, and leadership skills through collaborative research and project work. This well-rounded education prepared her to tackle industry-relevant issues creatively and effectively, and to manage complex projects and lead teams within textile and related sectors.
Hannah's passion for textile engineering was sparked during her time at the Summer Textile Exploration Program. Before that, she had already shown an inclination towards STEM subjects, having attended STEM camps in elementary school.
During her time at NC State, Hannah was actively involved in the Textile Technology and Engineering Society and the University Honors Program. Her dedication and hard work paid off when she was tasked with setting up the machine to knit a sample roll of replicated fabric.
The replicated fabric is then sent to a dye house for coloring before being sent back to the customer for approval. This process requires a keen eye and a deep understanding of textiles, skills that Hannah possesses in abundance.
Hannah can determine various details about a fabric from a small swatch, a testament to her technical expertise. She has a thorough understanding of textile-specific concepts, such as the difference between polyester and nylon or cotton and rayon, knowledge she gained at the Wilson College of Textiles.
Looking back on her journey, Hannah emphasizes the value of her education at the Wilson College of Textiles and advises students to explore their interests freely during college. She believes that college is a low-risk environment to figure out what one does and doesn't enjoy. Above all, Hannah emphasizes the importance of finding joy in one's job.
[1] Textile Engineering at Wilson College of Textiles
[3] Student Projects at Wilson College of Textiles
[4] Project Management and Leadership Skills at Wilson College of Textiles
Hannah's undergraduate education in textile engineering at the Wilson College of Textiles equipped her with essential skills in fabric rendering, styling, and leadership, preparing her for the textile industry.
The collaborative research and project work at Wilson College of Textiles honed Hannah's communication, group dynamics, and project management skills.
During her time at the Wilson College of Textiles, Hannah was a member of the Textile Technology and Engineering Society and the University Honors Program.
Hannah recommends students to explore their interests freely during college, as she found her passion for textile engineering through various education and self-development opportunities, including attending STEM camps and the Summer Textile Exploration Program.
Hannah's graduate-level career development has been facilitated by online education resources that provide skills training, helping her stay current in the evolving field of technology and its applications in engineering.
With a focus on education-and-self-development and career-development, Hannah continues to develop expertise in product development, particularly in reverse engineering fabrics, as a key figure at Contempora Fabrics.
