The Department of Textiles and Apparel in the College of Human Ecology will be the Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, beginning next semester.

"Our new name is a more accurate reflection of what we do: outstanding instruction, research and outreach in fiber science, and apparel design," said Ann Lemley, chair of the department.

The Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design is the only one of its kind in the Ivy League and offers the only Ph.D. in apparel design in the United States; it also offers a Ph.D. in fiber science.

"Aesthetic, functional, historical, cultural and social/economic considerations all inform our apparel design research, which is unique in its focus on design, including the development of innovative, cutting-edge technologies for use in the apparel industry and the exploration of fashion as a phenomenon affecting social and self-identity," said Lemley. She added, "The study of the physical, chemical, biological and engineering properties of new fibrous materials underpins our research in fiber science; the development and applications of these materials are at the frontier of fiber science."

In addition, the department's outreach to industry, consumers and youth "has an immediate impact on human health and the environment and a lasting impact on the materials, manufacturing and management models used in the global marketplace," Lemley said.