Carrie Dillon is the managing director of the International Textile Alliance (ITA), a nonprofit association recognized as the go-to resource for textile professionals in the U.S. She has held the role since 2020. Before that, Dillon acted as assistant director of the organization for six years.
You’ve been with the International Textile Association since 2014 and have risen through multiple roles. What initially drew you to the organization and the textile industry?
I fell into the home furnishings industry and the textile industry by chance. I had a friend who worked at Capel Rugs. He was friends with Catherine Morsell, the ITA’s executive director from 2000 to 2018. At the time, the assistant director was leaving, and my contact at Capel recommended me for the position. After meeting Catherine, we talked for an hour. The interview went well and I met the board. I had already been working in the home furnishings industry, so I understood the market cycle and had started building industry relationships. So she hired me.
What do you enjoy about your job?
At this point, I am very proud of the evolution of my career. I’ve learned so much in this role from a lot of great mentors. I enjoy the variety in what I do each day. I work for a board of directors, but there is a lot of autonomy in the role. I enjoy putting together a budget as well as the marketing aspect and networking with different groups in the industry, from other trade show organizers to students at textile design schools. The opportunity to connect with people is something I enjoy. I love the variety of what I do each day, from marketing and sponsorships to managing the P&L statement, networking and event planning. I love the cycle of building up to the show two times a year and I love the camaraderie of the industry, the friendly competition.
Who opened doors for you?
I’ve had many people who have been mentors and supporters over the years. After getting the job as the assistant director, Catherine taught me all there was to know about the trade show, including creating a budget, marketing, operations and member relations. After I started, Brian Casey came in as the new executive director in 2018, and he really focused on teaching me the business side by getting deep into budgeting, planning, marketing and leadership. He had been at the High Point Market Authority from 2006 to 2011 and brought a more strategic perspective. He was very intentional about preparing me to step into his role by introducing me to many leaders across the industry and teaching me the importance of building genuine relationships, especially in an industry as relationship-driven as ours. That happened sooner than planned, thanks to COVID in 2020. Brian is still a mentor. We talk often and have lunch when he comes to High Point and I really lean on him for advice. Jana Platina, with the Home Couture Collective, has also been a huge advocate for me personally and professionally. Jana has always been there to listen, provide great feedback and remind me that I am capable, skilled and passionate.
What innovations or changes are you most excited to bring to events like Interwoven?
We are now focused on trying to elevate the show to make it a better experience for the buyers. People who have come to the show for years have their routines. But we are looking at the show from the viewpoint of a new attendee and educating them so they can make the most of their time at the show. I am also proud of the rebranding of the show from Showtime to the Interwoven Textile Fair. We had talked for years about new names, and it was a great experience to help elevate the show in that way and appeal to new buyers. We rebranded with the magazine, we incorporated education into the show, and we focused on trends by bringing in trend forecasters, Future Snoops. We are now creating more networking opportunities for people at the show. It’s such an appointment-driven show and everyone is tucked away into their showrooms. Our tagline is “Connections happen here,” and our goal is to ensure that it is a reality, but we especially want young people to connect. We have a Young Textile Professionals group that helps to organize these meet-ups. At this month’s show, we plan to hold our first executive leadership breakfast. We’ve received a great reaction to the invitation and hope it will be an event we host each show.
Where is the most interesting place your job has taken you?
I was able to go to Heimtextil in Germany this past January. It was a great opportunity for me since it is such an international textile show. We are not competitors since we serve different roles. That show focuses on the global market, while we concentrate on the U.S. I met with organizers there to discuss ways to partner and raise visibility for the ITA. I’ve heard people talk about Heimtextil for more than 10 years, but you can’t appreciate the size of the show until you see it. I met with Turkish and other European mills there to discuss what is needed for them to successfully enter the U.S. market. I’m now hoping to go to the Proposte show in Italy to see what I can learn from them.
What are you most proud of in your work with ITA so far?
I am still focused on elevating the show, but we’ve made a lot of progress since the rebrand of the show to Interwoven in 2022. One piece of advice from Brian Casey that has always stayed with me. He said when it seems as if you have huge mountains to climb and it’s overwhelming, take a minute to look back and see how far you’ve already come. He said this inspires you to keep pushing, and that has truly been the case. We’ve made significant progress with the rebranding through improved marketing, networking and education, but we still have more to do.
You’ve recently recovered from breast cancer. How has that experience impacted your perspective on work?
Going through my battle with breast cancer helped me to appreciate the importance of enjoying what I’m doing each day. Who knows how many days you have left. In my case, it reinforced what I felt about my job and made me appreciate what I do and the opportunities I’ve received over the years. The board was wonderful during my treatment and recovery; they encouraged me to take all the time I needed. I also learned how to appreciate my own strength and resiliency. At one point, I had chemo, then I came back and ran a board meeting later that day. But I am grateful that the experience is behind me, and I don’t wish to repeat it.
What message would you want to share with others navigating similar health challenges?
I am very independent and don’t often ask for help, so it was a challenge to let people take care of me. But I needed to learn how to accept help. I also spent a lot of time focusing on how much worse it could be, I had the support of my family, my husband, and friends and my insurance helped financially. I would encourage others facing similar challenges to give themselves grace and to lean on friends and family.
Just for fun
How did you earn your first paycheck?
I worked at the Ski and Tennis Station in Greensboro, N.C., as a teen selling ski clothes, rollerblades and tennis equipment. All kinds of people came into the store, so I learned to deal with the public and got very close to my teammates at work.
What is your favorite food?
I love seafood and Asian food. Locally, my favorites are 1618 West and 98 Asian Bistro.
How do you unwind after a long day?
I hang out with my family and our dog and, if it’s a nice day, we throw the ball back and forth in the yard.
What are you currently reading?
I met with Barbour Spangle Design in High Point recently to better understand their fabric buying process and Christi Barbour gifted me the book Radical Remission by Kelly A. Turner, PhD. The book inspired me to take better care of myself.
