About

Trevor J. Little is a Professor of Textile and Apparel Management at the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University. He earned both his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Textiles from the University of Leeds, England. His professional experience includes work with CSIRO in Australia, the Wilson College of Textiles and Science (now Philadelphia University), Danskin Inc., and NC State University since 1984. His research interests encompass functionally tailored textiles, nanofibers, developing and delivering products that meet current consumer demand, automated garment design, digital printing, and electrotextiles. His work focuses on the intersection of textile technology and management, emphasizing rapid prototyping, new product development, and manufacturing efficiency to support the fashion industry, which employs millions worldwide. He is actively involved in organizations related to fashion and textile technology, serving on editorial and advisory boards, and contributing to industry leadership in supply chain and sewn products management.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Computer Security
• Marketing
• Business
• Accounting
• Data science

Selected publications

• New Thinking About Blockchain in the Fashion Industry

  Breaking Boundaries · 2022 · 2 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Security
  • Computer Science

  Blockchain is a relatively new and emerging technology that can be considered as a digital, decentralized, and distributed public ledger that records data, tracks transactions, and updates information. The majority of blockchain research has been conducted on bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Recently, however, researchers have recognized blockchain's potential in other areas, and the concept of blockchain technology is already starting to be applied in the fashion industry. While blockchain finds many applications related to sustainability and transparency, this research developed a blockchain model to map out the future fashion supply chain from a product attribute perspective.

  PublisherDOI

• Running Shoe Experience

  Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology · 2021 · 1 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science
  • Marketing

  Running is one of the most popular sports worldwide. While considerable research has been conducted on how various aspects of running shoes may affect a runner, research on why runners wear the shoes they choose is limited. Running shoe manufacturers do not possess a reliable method with which to purposely customize and prescribe functional shoe characteristics to meet the requirements of a specific user group. This research aimed to determine if more detailed shoe market segmentation is possible for runners. The survey of 1,472 runners determined that runners are primarily concerned with their perceived comfort in a shoe. More research would be recommended on the topic; and it is possible to define comprehensive shoe market segmentation for runners. Customization of running shoes to correctly fit runners faithfully has the prospect of being the next big running shoes innovation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Dynamic ease evaluation for 3D garment design

  Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management · 2018-04-19 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author

  Purpose 3D garment design technology is developing rapidly thereby creating a need for different approaches to developing the patterns. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the 3D dynamic ease distribution for a 3D garment design. Design/methodology/approach Standard garments were created from Size 2 to Size 14 for ten human subjects. Landmarks location on both human body and the standard garment under dynamic postures are recorded, and he fit and comfort evaluation of the standard garment were collected from the ten human subjects. Finally, these data were used to evaluate the 3D dynamic ease distribution for a 3D garment design. Findings 3D dynamic ease evaluation is challenging and the findings showed that the upper-arm design is a core element of the whole 3D garment design. The upper arm is not only a connecting part for both front and back pieces of the garment, but is also the main active part of the body, so it is the essential element to affect the comfort and fit of the garment under dynamic postures. Originality/value This research provides a novel 3D ease evaluation by analyzing the landmarks location of both human body and standard garment, and fit and comfort evaluation of the standard garment, which are all carried under dynamic postures.

  PublisherDOI

• Can heterogeneous compression textile design reshape skin pressures? A fundamental study

  Textile Research Journal · 2018-05-31 · 32 citations

  article

  Textile-based compression interventions (e.g. compression stockings and bandages), as an essential “source of pressure”, have impacted the effectiveness of pressure dosage delivery. The homogeneous structures of traditional compression shells generate highly uneven pressure distributions around leg geometrics in a passive mode, resulting in side effects and uncomfortable wearing perception. With this in mind, new heterogeneous compression sleeves with hybrid elastic properties were fabricated utilizing advanced three-dimensional seamless knitting technology and a unique laid-in structural design. PicoPress pressure assessment revealed in vivo that the developed heterogeneous compression shells with appropriate configurations for the lower limbs demonstrated the capability to proactively reshape skin pressures around leg cross-sections via calibrated proportions of segments with hybrid elastic moduli. The reduced anterior peak focal pressures and increased pressures at muscle-dominated posterior calves together provided a promising measure to enhance pressure function and user compliance in practice. The results will contribute to the development of a new generation of heterogeneous compression stockings with “bi-axial” pressure profiles for improved compression performance in extensive applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Stratified body shape-driven sizing system via three-dimensional digital anthropometry for compression textiles of lower extremities

  Textile Research Journal · 2017-06-26 · 17 citations

  article

  Poor fit has become one of reasons for high non-compliance in the use of garments made of compression textiles in venous deficiency treatments. A novel methodology to categorize lower body shapes and sizes has been established via three-dimensional digital anthropometric technology in this study based on 208 Hong Kong subjects aged 40–60 years. Three new parameters were introduced to classify body shapes, namely the “A-angle” for assessing the “alignment” of lower extremities, the “cosine values of the key angle” at the turning point for below-knee shape determination, and “gradient” for above-knee shape categories. The mathematical simulation via the interpolation function was employed to explore the characteristics of shape variation trends with the involvement of dynamic interactions of both circumferences ( Cir) and heights ( Hei) of lower extremities. The clustering analysis quantitatively segmented the sample population into three stratified leg morphologies (i.e. diamond, inverted trapezoid, and balanced leg shapes) in terms of the determined anthropometric landmarks along the lower extremities, in which the C ir( s) of the brachial ( cB1), calf ( cC), and thigh ( cF) exhibited most obvious differences among the clustered lower limbs. The created stratified shape-driven sizing system and methodologies further involved the body shape classifications into the Cir-based size categories to cater for diverse body morphologies in product size selection, thus improving dimensional fitness and accurate treatment using compression textiles in practice.

  PublisherDOI

• A critical review on compression textiles for compression therapy: Textile-based compression interventions for chronic venous insufficiency

  Textile Research Journal · 2016-05-06 · 78 citations

  reviewSenior author

  Compression textiles as adjuvant physical interventions are increasingly applied for prophylaxis and treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), providing benefits of calibrated compression and controlled stretch. Pressure dosage delivered and mechanical properties (stiffness, elasticity and hysteresis) are determined by material nature, stitches structures, fabrication technology and delivery modes. Laplace’s Law and Pascal’s Law contribute to elaborate the static and dynamic working mechanisms behind the interaction between compression interventions and a biological body. However, there is still a lack of sufficient awareness on compression materials, and there is controversy regarding the best solution for clinical application of compression. This study integrates the views from physiology, pathophysiology, biomechanics, material science and textile engineering, to review and clarify physical–mechanical characteristics of compression materials, working mechanisms of textile-based compression interventions and their medical benefits in chronic venous insufficiency treatment. The aim is to enhance understanding of compression textiles applied in compression therapy, and to facilitate cooperation among multiple parties working in related supply chains, thus promoting textile-based compression interventions in chronic venous insufficiency treatment and growth of technical textiles applied in healthcare, medical and rehabilitation fields.

  PublisherDOI

• Compression form-fitted athletic wear: Pressure performance, moisture management properties under different tension ratios, and corresponding psychophysical responses

  Fibers and Polymers · 2014-03-01 · 15 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Innovation management in creating new fashions

  2012-10-12 · 8 citations

  book-chapter

  Introduction Each apparel manufacturer’s new collections of garments and accessories are created to satisfy a predicted target consumer demand. These demand predictions are based on target market research and past sales analysis, and input from experienced product merchandisers, designers and buyers. The collections are influenced by trends observed in apparel and related industries (textile, shoes, accessories, home furnishings, etc.), and/or other industries (such as entertainment, sports, music or automotive), as well as wider environmental movements (cultural, social, technological, economical, etc.). All these elements combined help determine the concepts and themes for the new season. Relevant materials, colour palettes and silhouettes are developed and selected accordingly. Trims and details may be added as further embellishments. These former and latter design elements are coordinated and grouped into product lines that meet cost, production and delivery time requirements.

  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of elite athletes psycho-physiological responses to compression form-fitted athletic wear in intensive exercise based on 5Ps model

  Fibers and Polymers · 2012-03-01 · 9 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Towards a model for nanoscale cell wall prediction of drought survivability in Arabidopsis thaliana

  2012-01-01

  article
  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Rong Liu

  Peking Union Medical College Hospital

  5 shared

• Beatrice Le Pechoux

  4 shared

• Terence T. Lao

  University of Hong Kong

  3 shared

• Cynthia L. Istook

  Wilson College

  3 shared

• Qiujin Peng

  Zhejiang Lab

  2 shared

• Behnam Pourdeyhimi

  2 shared

• Traci May‐Plumlee

  North Carolina State University

  2 shared

• T.G. Clapp

  North Carolina State University

  2 shared

Education

• B.S., Textiles

  University of Leeds

• Ph.D., Textiles

  University of Leeds