Chapman was the leader in crafting the US textile industry’s policy response to globalisation. He led NCTO in 2016-2017 when debate on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the biggest challenge to the US textile industry, was coming to a climax.
"Chapman's legacy is immense. In the last two decades, globalization, particularly the entry of China into the World Trade Organization, triggered the most disruptive change ever experienced by the US textile industry. When other companies were going out of business, Inman Mills responded with a strategy of innovation, reinvestment and a willingness to adapt. Today, thanks to Chapman’s dedication and foresight, Inman Mills is one of the shining lights in the renaissance of the US textile industry," Tantillo said.
Tantillo, also a close friend of Chapman, remembers him as a loyal and generous person. "He was a fierce competitor, driven by the desire to help his community and industry. Most of all, he loved his family and his many associates at Inman Mills. He dedicated his life to their well-being. If there ever was any doubt that builders can build faster than destroyers can destroy, he was the living proof. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will long endure," Tantillo concluded. (RR)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India