The Textile Gateway to Host Industry Panel at Functional Fabric Fair Spring 2025

The Textile Gateway is excited to announce a distinguished panel discussion at the Functional Fabric Fair, taking place April 14-16, 2025, at the Portland Convention Center. Organized by The Textile Industry Re-Imagined Through Education and Work Force Development, this event will bring together industry leaders to address key challenges in the textile sector.

The panel will feature Sasha Stolyarov, CEO of AFFOA; Haskell Beckham, VP of Innovation at Columbia Sportswear; Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO/Founder of MMI Textiles; David Hinks, Dean of Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University; and Cheryl Smyre, VP of Advanced Materials at Parkdale Mills (CICO®). The discussion will focus on strategies to find and retain skilled workers, attract entry-level staff, and inspire the next generation of textile leaders and innovators.

The Textile Gateway emphasizes the importance of university textile programs in addressing these challenges through education, outreach, and industry engagement. The initiative provides resources like videos and virtual tours to excite students about textiles, while encouraging collaboration between the textile industry, universities, community colleges, and trade schools through mentoring, internships, and training programs.

Join The Textile Gateway at the Functional Fabric Fair to get connected and help shape the future of the textile industry! For more information, visit thetextilegateway.com.

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Some Names to Know Around Here

David Parkes

Founder & CEO

Chris Parkes

Managing Partner

Rob Birn

East Coast Sales

Helen Birn

Operations

Allison Abbate

Sales Support

Kim Walsh

Sales Support

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David Parkes

Founder & CEO

David is a skilled marketer first and a textile expert second. Raised in Stafford, England, and armed with a marketing degree from the University of Kent, David began his career at Borg Textiles in the UK where he worked in sales and product development for the famous pile and faux fur maker. After his success in the European market, Borg transferred David to the US in 1973.

Massachusetts-based Malden Mills subsequently hired David away in 1976. Placed in charge of market planning, David was appointed sales director in 1981 for the launch of Polar Fleece – what is now Malden’s Polartec®.

Fully committed to creating textile-based products for a burgeoning outdoor industry, David started Concept III in 1983 as domestic textile resource. The “III” was to stand for service, styling and sales, and still does. For nearly 30 years, David and his staff have helped develop textiles from natural cotton to technical blends for a “who’s who” list of outdoor, active sports and, now, sportswear manufacturers and major retailers.

In anticipation of the coming global economy, David expanded Concept III from a domestic resource to an international one during the 90’s. With a current staff of nine, the company now has offices in both the U.S. and Europe and works with sources worldwide. Concept III is now completely vertical in operation, offering product manufacturing in Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Africa in addition to their development and sourcing services.

Dedicated to the outdoor industry, David has served on the Outdoor Industry Association Board, is past president of the PolyPro Council and has exhibited at and supported the Outdoor Retailer Show since its founding. David believes that the outdoor industry is a unique industry with unique requirements and that creative performance textiles are what drive the outdoor apparel market. He also says that he couldn’t live without “merchandisers who really know what’s going on and what they’re doing.” He is dedicated to staying in front of and focused on his customers.

David resides in Little Silver, NJ. Though described as a workaholic, David’s wife Diana, three children, and six grandchildren come first and share a love for skiing, cycling, and team sports—particularly soccer. His passion for classical music comes second. He performs nationally with his renowned choral group when his busy travel schedule allows.

Chris Parkes

Managing Partner

Born in England, Chris and his family came to the U.S. when he was four and settled in New Jersey. He graduated in history and economics at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA then joined Concept III, his family’s business based in Red Bank, NJ where he took on new knowledge and competencies in performance textiles. Chris, his wife Christine and their family now live near Denver, Colorado surrounded by the camping, hiking and other outdoor activities they love.

For over 20 years Chris has worked with a “Who’s Who” list of outdoor, active sports, sportswear and major retail brands helping them build textile-based products that sell. He prizes the personal relationships he has with his customers and has a unique ability to understand their needs from the product designer to the CEO. He will tell you that he gets great enjoyment out of solving their problems, making their life easier and earning their trust.

As a company, Concept III is acutely aware of how important the environment is. In addition to overseeing Concept III’s national and international sales strategy, Chris Parkes has spearheaded the development of environmentally positive methods and procedures as well as certification at Concept III’s partner mills on behalf of customers. He has aided a third of these resources with which he works to become bluesign® certified. Chris has also spoken on behalf of environmental issues at trade shows and at customer product meetings. He envisions a day when the manufacture of textiles has zero impact on the earth. 

Rob Birn

East Coast Sales

Rob Birn is a native of New Jersey, though he doesn’t have the accent to prove it.

A foodie at heart, he earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Pennsylvania State because, he confesses, it would allow him to be around good food and fine wines. Rob worked for both the Hilton and Sheraton hotel brands before joining Grapevine Designs, a promotional marketing agency.  There he was exposed to the apparel industry and managing a variety of factories overseas.

In 2014 Rob joined Concept III and now handles new account development, with a focus on the uniform market in addition to assisting with other accounts.

Rob says his partnerships with his customers become friendships and vice versa. That, he says is what makes his work so enjoyable.

After college Rob married Helen Parkes, his high school sweetheart. They have two sons and live in Red Bank, NJ. Rob not only coaches his son’s soccer team but he can be found skiing, playing tennis and surfing with them depending on the season. Though his five-times-a-week gym visits are impressive, he says it’s just so he can keep up with them.

Allison Abbate

Sales Support

Allison was captain of both the soccer and lacrosse teams at Georgian Court University where she recently graduated Cum Laude in accounting, business management and finance. Allison keeps the machinery of Concept III’s customer service and administrative support finely tuned.

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Gwen Moore

European Sales Support

Highly skilled in customer service, Gwen has been dedicated to surpassing customers’ expectations at Concept III since 1998.  An avid walker and jogger, she regularly takes part in England’s Great North Run half marathon and the Race for Life cancer benefit, and supports her local Youth Hostel in hosting walkers, runners, and cyclists.