In the textile industry, “perfect” data is rare. The real expertise lies in knowing when “close enough” delivers a strategic advantage and when it poses a critical risk. Coming December 9-10, 2026, AATCC presents The Specifier’s Edge, an immersive workshop to be held at the AATCC Technical Center. Designed for experienced professionals, this program cuts through the noise and provides a clear, practical framework for translating laboratory data into confident, defensible business decisions. This is not introductory training, it’s an opportunity to sharpen your judgment, strengthen your decision-making, and elevate your impact. This page will be updated as details for the December 9-10, 2026, Specifier’s Edge Workshop are finalized.
Program information shown below is from the August 5–6, 2025, Mastering Textile Specifications Workshop.
The program timetable for the December 2026 program will be posted soon.
If you’re a designer, product manager, technical designer, marketer, or entrepreneur, or if you’re interested in gaining a better understanding of textile testing options and result interpretations, this workshop is tailored for you. The knowledge and resources you acquire will empower you to make informed decisions when selecting textile products.
As an attendee, you’ll benefit from direct access to the expertise of AATCC staff and members. These professionals specialize in standards development, textile testing, quality control, and claim substantiation. By participating, you’ll acquire practical tools and knowledge that can be immediately applied. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your professional network through valuable connections.
Topics Covered
- Expanding Your Network
- Standardized Testing Significance
- Textile Analysis Tools
- Color Measurement Principles
- Laundry in a Testing Context
- Basic Properties Testing
- Appearance Properties Testing
- Testing for Functional Properties
- Testing for Performance Properties
- Colorfastness Overview
- Addressing Fabric’s Response to Environmental Factors
- Sustainability Considerations
- Regulatory Considerations
- Troubleshooting Textile Issues
- Smart Tools and Practical Resources
Registration includes luncheons, breaks, and digital copies of the Analytical Methods for a Textile Laboratory and Selecting a Textile Testing Lab.
Attendance is limited; register early.
| Notice of Consent and Contact Information Sharing By attending this meeting, you consent to AATCC using any photos, videos, or images of you or your likeness in AATCC media or materials. Additionally, your name, company, and email address will be shared with other event attendees. If you prefer not to consent or share your contact information, please email the Education Department to opt out. |
| Force Majeure AATCC shall not be responsible for cancellation, delay, or modification of the Specifier’s Edge Workshop due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, government orders, public health emergencies, or other Force Majeure Events. No refunds will be issued due to such circumstances. |
| Workshop Schedule | |
| TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2025 | |
| 8:30 AM | Welcome to AATCC •Safety overview •About AATCC |
| Expanding Your Network •Introduction to Staff and Participants •Tour of AATCC |
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| Why Standardized Testing | |
| Color Measurement Principles •Color Overview •Color Acuity with FM100 & Colorblindness Testing Overview •Viewing Environment & The LED Lighting Factors •EP9 Visual assessment of Color Differences in Textiles •EP6 Instrumental Color Measurement •Hands-on Demo |
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| Testing Considerations to Determine Descriptive Properties | |
| Physical Properties •ASTM D3774 Width of Textile Fabric •ASTM D3776/D3776M Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric •ASTM D8007 Wale and Course Count of Weft Knitted Fabrics •ASTM D3775 End (Warp) and Pick (Filling) Count of Woven Fabrics •ASTM D1777 Thickness of Textile Materials (for non-wovens, Laminations and spacer fabrics) •AATCC TM20 Fiber Analysis: Qualitative •AATCC TM20A Test Method for Fiber Analysis: Quantitative •Hands-on Demo |
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| Laundering in a Testing Context •LP1 Home Laundering Machine Washing •LP5 Home Laundering with Bleach |
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| Performance after Laundering •AATCC TM88B Seam Smoothness in Fabrics after Home Laundering •AATCC TM88C Crease Retention in Fabrics after Home Laundering •AATCC TM124 Appearance of Fabrics after Home Laundering •AATCC TM135/AATCC TM150 Dimensional Changes of Fabric/Garments to Home Laundering •AATCC TM179 Skew Change in Fabrics after Home Laundering (Method 1 Only) •AATCC TM207 Seam Twist in Garments Before & After Home Laundering •Hands-on Demo |
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| Testing Considerations to Determine Functional Performance | |
| Antibacterial Performance •AATCC TM100 Antibacterial Finishes on Textile Materials: Assessment of •AATCC TM147 Antibacterial Activity Assessment of Textile Materials: Parallel Streak •AATCC TM211 Reduction of Bacterial Odor on Antibacterial Treated Textiles |
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| Pilling and Abrasion Performance •ASTM D4966 Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics (Martindale Abrasion Tester Method •ASTM D4970 Pilling Resistance and Other Related Surface Changes of Textile Fabrics: Martindale Tester |
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| Resistance /Repellency/Soil Release Performance •AATCC TM22 Water Repellency: Spray •AATCC TM35 Water Resistance: Rain •AATCC TM42 Water Resistance: Impact Penetration •AATCC TM127 Water Resistance: Hydrostatic Pressure •AATCC TM130 Soil Release: Oily Stain •AATCC TM215 Soil Release: Household Soil with LP4 Synthetic Soil |
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| Lab Time | |
| 5:00 PM | Questions/Wrap-Up and Adjourn |
| WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025 | |
| 8:30 AM | Opening Remarks |
| Colorfastness Concepts | |
| Colorfastness Grading and Rating •EP1 Evaluation Procedure for Gray Scale for Color Change •EP2 Evaluation Procedure for Gray Scale for Staining •EP8 Evaluation Procedure for 9-Step Chromatic Transference Scale •Hands-on Demo |
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| Colorfastness Performance •AATCC TM8 & AATCC TM116 Crocking •AATCC TM15 Perspiration •AATCC TM107 Water •AATCC TM61 Accelerated Laundering •AATCC TM162 Chlorinated Pool •AATCC TM 16.3 Light Xenon Arc |
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| Sustainability Considerations •AATCC TM212 Fiber Fragment Release •Hands-on Demo |
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| Moisture Management Performance •Overview on Moisture Management Performance •AATCC TM79 Absorbency of Textiles •AATCC TM197 & AATCC TM213 Vertical Wicking •AATCC TM198 Horizontal Wicking •AATCC TM195 Moisture Management •Hands-on Demo |
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| Stretch, Tensile & Strength Performance •ASTM D4964 Tension and Elongation of Elastic Fabrics (Constant-Rate-of-Extension Type Tensile Testing Machine) •ASTM D2261 Tearing Strength of Fabrics by the Tongue (Single Rip) Procedure (Constant-Rate-of-Extension Tensile Testing Machine) •ASTM D3786/D3786M- Bursting Strength of Textile Fabrics—Diaphragm Bursting Strength Tester Method •ASTM D5035 Breaking Force and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Strip Method) •Fabrics D5034 Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test) |
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| Addressing Fabric’s Response to Environmental Factors •AATCC TM81 pH of Water-Extract from Wet Processed •AATCC TM144 Total Alkali in Wet Processed Textiles •AATCC TM209 pH and Total Alkali in Processed Textiles: Combined •ISO 105 X18 Assessment of Phenolic Yellowing of Materials •AATCC TM23 Burnt Gas fumes •AATCC TM164 Oxides of Nitrogen in the Atmosphere under High Humidities •AATCC TM109 Ozone in the Atmosphere under Low Humidities •AATCC TM129 Ozone in the Atmosphere under High Humidities •UPF Testing Protocol: AATCC TM183 Transmittance or Blocking of Erythemally Weighted Ultraviolet Radiation through Fabrics; ASTM D6455 Preparation of Textiles Prior to Ultraviolet (UV) Transmission; ASTM D6603 Labeling of UV-Protective Textiles |
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| Lab Time | |
| Regulatory Considerations | |
| Leaning into your New Network •Troubleshooting Textile Issues •Best Practices for Setting Specifications |
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| 4:00 PM | Closing Remarks, Distribution of Certificates |
| Notice of Consent and Contact Information Sharing By attending this meeting, you consent to AATCC using any photos, videos, or images of you or your likeness in AATCC media or materials. Additionally, your name, company, and email address will be shared with other event attendees. If you prefer not to consent or share your contact information, please email the Education Department to opt out. |
| Force Majeure AATCC shall not be responsible for cancellation, delay, or modification of the Specifier’s Edge Workshop due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, government orders, public health emergencies, or other Force Majeure Events. No refunds will be issued due to such circumstances. |
Online registration* Attendance is limited; early registration is encouraged. Registration includes luncheons, breaks, and digital copies of the Analytical Methods for a Textile Laboratory and Selecting a Textile Testing Lab. Refunds (less $75 cancellation fee) will be honored if received on or before November 23, 2026. No refunds will be given after November 23.
| AATCC Individual & Corporate* Members | Nonmembers | |
|---|---|---|
| Early Registration (Before November 23, 2026) | US$970 | US$1445 |
| Regular Registration (After November 23, 2026) | US$1030 | US$1505 |
| *AATCC Corporate members please contact the Education Department to receive information on how to register at the discounted member’s rate. | ||
| Notice of Consent and Contact Information Sharing By attending this meeting, you consent to AATCC using any photos, videos, or images of you or your likeness in AATCC media or materials. Additionally, your name, company, and email address will be shared with other event attendees. If you prefer not to consent or share your contact information, please email the Education Department to opt out. |
| Force Majeure AATCC shall not be responsible for cancellation, delay, or modification of the Specifier’s Edge Workshop due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, government orders, public health emergencies, or other Force Majeure Events. No refunds will be issued due to such circumstances. |
Homewood Suites by Hilton 4603 Central Park Dr. Durham, NC 27703 USA telephone +1.919.474.9900 Cutoff deadline: November 9, 2026 Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly and requesting the AATCC group rate of US$139/night or made online. Reservations must be made by November 9, 2026, to receive the group rate. Reservations made after November 9 are subject to availability and not guaranteed the group rate. Individual cancellations must be made 48 hours prior to arrival. The nearest airport to the AATCC Technical Center is the Raleigh/Durham International Airport. RDU International is approximately 15-20 minutes from the AATCC Technical Center depending on traffic. For those of you flying into the Raleigh/Durham International Airport, the Homewood Suites by Hilton provides complimentary airport pick-up and drop-off. The Homewood Suites by Hilton will provide shuttle service between the hotel and the Technical Center. The shuttle will leave the hotel each morning (Dec. 9 & 10) at 8:00 a.m. At the conclusion of the program on Thursday, the hotel will provide transportation to the Raleigh Durham International Airport.
| Notice of Consent and Contact Information Sharing By attending this meeting, you consent to AATCC using any photos, videos, or images of you or your likeness in AATCC media or materials. Additionally, your name, company, and email address will be shared with other event attendees. If you prefer not to consent or share your contact information, please email the Education Department to opt out. |
| Force Majeure AATCC shall not be responsible for cancellation, delay, or modification of the Specifier’s Edge Workshop due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, government orders, public health emergencies, or other Force Majeure Events. No refunds will be issued due to such circumstances. |