Beyond the Classroom: Carolina Textile District Immersion Trips
Our immersive, on-site learning experiences invite students to explore the textile industry through real-world engagement rooted in circularity, place-based learning, and cooperative business models.
Through manufacturer tours, hands-on activities, guided discussions, and interactive lessons, participants connect directly with manufacturers, makers, and community leaders to better understand the impacts of fast fashion and the opportunities for building a more sustainable and equitable future.
Designed with university alternative spring breaks and immersion programs in mind, these experiences can be customized for learners of all ages—from middle and high school students to college groups—and can range from a half-day visit to a week-long exploration.
Each trip is thoughtfully tailored to the interests, learning objectives, and age of the group, with opportunities to enhance the experience through activities such as a traditional Hmong meal, industrial sewing workshops, and conversations with experts in cooperative business development and community wealth building.
Workshops can include…
Learning Sessions
Explore topics such as circularity, Appalachian history, the T-shirt supply chain, cooperative development, The Industrial Commons’ history, and more.
Hands on Activities
Practice skills through industrial sewing machine instruction, creative art projects, and other applied learning experiences.
Cultural Meals
Share in traditional Hmong meals that offer cultural grounding and connection through food and community.
Site Tours
Visit manufacturing facilities, downtown Morganton, and local cooperative spaces to see systems and community in action.