The touch, the feel of cotton is in the cotton fibers themselves. How fabrics feel to us, known as “tactile performance” in fiber science, depends on their physical properties.

Prof. Anil Netravali explores biodegradeable materials to improve environmental conditions and increase sustainability.

Prof. Juan Hinestroza, fiber science and apparel design, hatched the idea of textile nanotechnology while reading about the 50-year cycles of technological advancements: textiles, railroads, cars, computers, and most recently, nanotechnology. The prospect of merging two revolutions separated by 200 years intrigued him, and he works to generate "revolutionary" fabrics.

If you find yourself wandering the halls of MVR at some point, you might just stumble upon the Fiber Science & Apparel Design studios on the second floor. Walls lined with high school-style lockers, rows upon rows of sewing machines and muslin-draped mannequins — these are the clues that you have stepped through Martha’s looking glass into the academic world of fashion at Cornell. And as an FSAD major myself, I have witnessed this transformation firsthand.

“What is an FSAD student?” Prof. Anita Racine, senior lecturer of the department mused, “He or she is usually well-rounded, with an excellent academic background. FSAD students have most likely traveled, done work in the industry, and love design.”