Keith Hoover is president of Black Swan Textiles, a consulting company specializing in digitalization for the apparel and textile industries, from 3D product design to manufacturing optimization and automation on the factory floor. The company’s current focus involves developing digital models and standards that will enable comprehensive fabric specification, formulation, and QC. He is currently overseeing an end-to-end digital product creation program for Ralph Lauren in New York.
Hoover started his career as a commercial artist and fashion illustrator for such brands as Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren, where he served as Associate Art Director and was part of a team that set up Polo R&D in Greensboro, NC. He moved into product development, devising digital color management programs for Ralph Lauren, Target, Lands' End, JCPenney, and Under Armour. Hoover worked in US manufacturing where he oversaw Fruit of the Loom's domestic dyehouses. He was the first in the US to implement a large-scale, end-to-end global digital color management process for a major retailer ($70B), reducing color development lead-time from 90 days to 1 day. While at Under Armour, Hoover championed Project Glory at the UA Lighthouse, developing new development and advanced manufacturing processes to build local-for-local sourcing. He has worked hands-on in mills worldwide and led development for multi-million dollar textile programs in China, India, Pakistan, and Korea. Hoover is a frequent presenter to leading textile-facing organizations, including AATCC, EURATEX, ISCC, PI-Apparel, SDC, STRC, AIC, and STA.