American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

What American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists does

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1921 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, within the Research Triangle Park area. It develops and maintains standardized test methods, evaluation procedures, and laundering protocols used by the global textile industry to assess colorfastness, dimensional stability, water resistance, flammability, antimicrobial activity, UV protection, and other textile performance characteristics. Core intellectual property is centered on the AATCC Technical Manual, the AATCC Test Methods library, standardized laundering procedures (LP1/LP2), UV calibration reference fabrics, and the Proficiency Testing Programs (PTP) that enable textile laboratories to benchmark testing accuracy through interlaboratory comparisons. The organization supplements standards with an online store for test materials and reference fabrics, a member portal, the AATCC Communities networking platform, the annual AATCC International Summit, specialized workshops (Color Management, UV Calibration), online learning and TM Training, publications including the AATCC Journal of Research, and the Concept 2 Consumer student competition.

AATCC serves four primary segments: textile testing laboratories, textile manufacturers and brands, academic and research institutions, and chemical and dye suppliers. Named enterprise participants in its committees include Nike, Walmart, REI, Cotton Incorporated, Archroma, UL Solutions, SDL Atlas, Testfabrics, Vartest, and NC State University's Wilson College of Textiles. Its revenue model is diversified across individual, corporate, and student membership subscriptions (annual billing), sales of testing materials and reference fabrics through the online store, proficiency testing program registration fees, conference and workshop registration, and publications. Distribution is primarily digital through the member portal, online store, AATCC Communities platform, and direct event registration, with regional extension via local sections and student chapters.

The organization is member-driven, governed by a Board of Directors, and operates a wholly-owned affiliated nonprofit (AATCC Foundation) that funds scholarships and educational initiatives. AATCC maintains the Colour Index in partnership as the global reference database for over 9,000 dyes and pigments, and collaborates with ASTM International's D13 committee on flame test methods, OEKO-TEX on chemical certification references, and equipment vendors such as SDL Atlas.

Name

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

Legal name

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

Website

https://aatcc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AATCC is a 100+ year-old nonprofit professional association that develops standardized textile test methods, runs proficiency testing programs, and provides educational resources, publications, and networking for the global textile industry across labs, brands, academia, and chemical suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Testing Standards and Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAAAMAL

Textile Testing, Compliance & Quality Assurance

Consumer Products & Retail/Apparel, Footwear & Accessories/Textiles, Fabrics & Trims (Inputs & Sourcing)

Keywords

• Textile testing standards
• Colorfastness test methods
• Textile proficiency testing
• Textile reference materials
• Professional membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Individual, corporate, and student memberships providing access to member portal, technical resources, communities, and discounts on products and events
2. Testing Materials and Products: Sale of standardized test fabrics, dyes, chemicals, and testing materials through the AATCC Online Store
3. Proficiency Testing Program Fees: Registration fees for textile laboratories participating in interlaboratory testing programs for quality assurance
4. Events and Conference Revenue: Registration fees for the annual AATCC International Summit, workshops, and educational events
5. Publications: Sale of AATCC Magazine, newsletters, whitepapers, and technical publications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) develops and publishes standardized test methods for textile colorfastness, durability, and performance. It sells reference testing materials, runs proficiency testing programs for textile laboratories, and delivers publications, education, and events for textile professionals worldwide.

Product overview

AATCC is a professional membership organization providing standards development, testing materials, educational resources, and professional networking to the global textile industry since 1921. The core offerings center on AATCC Test Methods and Procedures (standardized methods for evaluating colorfastness, durability, water resistance, flammability, and antimicrobial properties), supplemented by the AATCC Online Store for testing materials and reference fabrics, and Proficiency Testing Programs for laboratory quality assurance. Additional services include Publications (magazine, newsletters, whitepapers), Online Learning (digital courses, TM Training, textile fundamentals), AATCC Communities (member networking platform), the annual International Summit and specialized workshops, and the Concept 2 Consumer student competition. These offerings collectively support an 'empowered, informed, and sustainable future' for textile professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AATCC Test Methods (TM)

Quantifiable outcome

• Standardized testing enables consistent quality measurement across global supply chains
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Colour IndexcoreTechnology or IntegrationAATCC maintains the Colour Index in partnership, which serves as the global reference database for dyes and pigments used in textile coloration. This collaboration provides standardized nomenclature and classification for over 9,000 dyes and pigments.
• ASTM International (D13 Committee)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint AATCC/ASTM D13 committee focusing on flame tests for textiles, combining expertise from both organizations to develop comprehensive flammability testing standards.
• AATCC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AATCC Foundation supports the mission through fundraising, scholarships, and educational initiatives that advance textile research and professional development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Textile Exchange: Nonprofit focused on preferred fibers and materials standards (GRS, RCS, OCS). Comparable as a nonprofit membership/standards body in the textile value chain, but with a sustainability focus that increasingly intersects with AATCC's chemical testing remit.

Regional players

• National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO): US trade association representing the textile manufacturing and supplier industry. Comparable as a textile industry membership body serving overlapping US-based corporate members, though focused on advocacy rather than testing standards.

Direct peers

• OEKO-TEX: Operates STANDARD 100, ECO PASSPORT, and related certifications for textile chemicals and finished products. Directly comparable as a textile-focused testing/certification ecosystem whose chemical certification framework is integrated with AATCC whitepapers.
• Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC): UK-based professional body for colour science and textile coloration. Directly comparable to AATCC in mission — developing standards, offering educational credentials (ASDC), and serving textile chemists — and serves as the international counterpart in the same niche.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Largest global TIC provider with extensive textile, footwear, and softlines testing laboratories. Comparable as a commercial testing lab customer of standardized methods and a competitor for outsourced textile quality assurance.
• ASTM International: Global standards body with a textile committee (D13) that co-develops flame testing methods with AATCC. Broader portfolio across materials, but overlapping membership and competing standards make it the most relevant incumbent peer.
• British Standards Institution (BSI): UK national standards body that issues textile standards (BS/EN/ISO via committee work). Comparable as a broader standards organization whose textile portfolio competes for citation in regulations and buyer specifications.
• Intertek: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company with a significant textile and apparel testing practice. Comparable as a downstream consumer of standardized test methods (including AATCC's) and a competitor for lab-based textile testing services.
• TÜV SÜD: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with textile and consumer products testing capabilities. Comparable as a downstream TIC competitor that applies standardized test methods (including AATCC) for brand and retailer supply chain compliance.
• UL Solutions: Global safety science and testing organization with significant textile and softlines practice. Comparable as an enterprise customer participating in AATCC committees while also offering competing standardized textile testing services to retailers and brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/AATCC/53271800215
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-association-of-textile-chemists-and-colorists
• Instagraminstagram.com/aatcc_
• Xx.com/aatcc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists