Anne Wiper

Anne Wiper is the CEO of the NSF-funded North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine, an organization dedicated to advancing the competitiveness of the U.S. textile industry. Under her leadership, the Textile Engine focuses on R&D and the commercialization of circular and regenerative materials and processes, strengthening the domestic textile supply chain and preparing the workforce for future industry demands.

In addition to her leadership role, Anne serves as a lecturer in the Masters of the Environment graduate program at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she teaches Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Practices.

With a career spanning global consumer product brands, Anne has held leadership roles focused on sustainability-driven product innovation. As Vice President of Product for Smartwool and Icebreaker, both VF Corporation brands, she led product roadmaps and innovation pipelines, integrating circularity into business strategies. Earlier in her career, she guided product development teams at Salomon in France and the U.S., as well as at Nike in the Netherlands and Oregon, shaping performance-driven, sustainable solutions.

Anne was a key architect of Smartwool’s Second Cut program, an industry-leading circularity initiative that turns discarded socks into new yarn for apparel and accessories—demonstrating her commitment to closing the loop on textile waste.

With an MBA from the University of Denver and deep expertise in sustainable product development, Anne is passionate about reshaping industries through innovation, circular design, and responsible production. She continues to champion scalable solutions that reduce environmental impact and create a regenerative future for textiles and beyond.