Luxury sportswear industry harnesses talents of Textile Engineering alumna, Caroline Ellington ('13, '14)
Caroline Ellington, a graduate of the Wilson College of Textiles, is making waves in the luxury golf and lifestyle industry. Currently serving as the Line Review Director at Peter Millar, she works directly alongside the company's chief creative officer and design team, overseeing various aspects of the business.
Ellington's passion for textile engineering was ignited during her studies, with a focus on performance apparel and the luxury sector, particularly in golf. Her career with Raleigh-based Peter Millar now spans nine years and counting.
Ellington's role at Peter Millar is multifaceted, encompassing design, development, merchandising, planning, production, marketing, and digital marketing. She wears many hats, including project management and strategic consideration.
Ellington's journey to success began with an Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's programme in Textile Engineering. This program equipped her with diverse career opportunities, including roles in textile production, quality control, fashion and costume design, textile machinery engineering, and product development. In the context of luxury golf and lifestyle brands, these opportunities particularly align with textile innovation, quality management, design aesthetics, and sustainable manufacturing—areas critical to premium lifestyle product lines.
Key career paths for Textile Engineering graduates in luxury golf and lifestyle brands include Textile Engineer roles, Quality Controller/Supervisor positions, Fashion and Costume Designer roles, Product Development and Innovation positions, Supply Chain and Production Management roles, and Stylist, Visual Merchandiser, and Buyer roles.
Ellington's advice for current textile engineering students is to be open to nontraditional opportunities and applications. She believes that her experiences, such as observing the production process up close, interning at RWTH Aachen University's Textile Institute in Germany, and participating in an interdisciplinary immersion program in Vietnam, studying global supply chains, have been invaluable.
The faculty at the Wilson College of Textiles is part of what makes it special, according to Ellington. As a Park Scholar and an alumna of the Wilson College of Textiles, she credits the institution for preparing her to be a better all-around thinker and problem-solver, skills that are universally applicable in any discipline.
About 10 of the 20 people on Ellington's team at Peter Millar are Wilson College alumni, a testament to the college's impact on the industry. Ellington's hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and she continues to make significant contributions to the world of luxury golf and lifestyle apparel.
- Caroline Ellington, a graduate from the Wilson College of Textiles, is currently serving as the Line Review Director at Peter Millar, a luxury golf and lifestyle brand, where she works with the company's chief creative officer and design team.
- Her passion for textile engineering was ignited during her studies at the Wilson College of Textiles, with a focus on performance apparel and the luxury sector, particularly in golf.
- Ellington's role at Peter Millar is multifaceted, encompassing design, development, merchandising, planning, production, marketing, and digital marketing.
- Ellington's career with Raleigh-based Peter Millar now spans nine years and counting, and her journey to success began with an Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's program in Textile Engineering.
- Key career paths for Textile Engineering graduates in luxury golf and lifestyle brands include Textile Engineer roles, Quality Controller/Supervisor positions, Fashion and Costume Designer roles, Product Development and Innovation positions, Supply Chain and Production Management roles, and Stylist, Visual Merchandiser, and Buyer roles.
- Ellington advises current textile engineering students to be open to nontraditional opportunities and applications, citing her experiences such as interning at RWTH Aachen University's Textile Institute in Germany, and participating in an interdisciplinary immersion program in Vietnam, as invaluable.
- The faculty at the Wilson College of Textiles played a significant role in Ellington's success, preparing her to be a better all-around thinker and problem-solver.
- About 10 of the 20 people on Ellington's team at Peter Millar are Wilson College alumni, a testament to the college's impact on the industry.
- Ellington's hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and she continues to make significant contributions to the world of luxury golf and lifestyle apparel.
- In addition to her work in fashion, Ellington's education has also prepared her for career development in education-and-self-development and sports, specifically golf.
- Ellington's efforts in promoting sustainability in textiles and materials, along with her research in business, supply chain, and fashion, are helping to drive the textiles industry towards a more sustainable future.
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