AATCC

AATCC, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, is a professional organization focused on textile color science, chemistry, and testing. It develops standardized test methods and measurement practices that are widely used by textile manufacturers, laboratories, researchers, and educators to assess the performance and appearance of textile materials.

The organization traces its roots to the early 20th century, having been founded in 1924 as the American Association of Textile Colorists and Chemists. It later adopted its current name and expanded its scope to cover a broader range of textile chemistry and color science topics. AATCC operates on an international basis, with members from industry, academia, and government laboratories.

AATCC activities center on the creation and dissemination of standardized methods, often referred to as AATCC methods, for evaluating properties such as colorfastness, staining, appearance, and physical performance of textiles. In addition to developing methods, the association offers proficiency testing programs, educational resources, technical seminars, and conferences. It also publishes technical reports, bulletins, and journals related to textile testing and color science, and provides access to a library of resources for practitioners and researchers. The methods produced by AATCC are frequently used in industry qualification, product development, quality control, and regulatory compliance, and are recognized by other standards organizations and researchers worldwide.

Governance is typically conducted by a volunteer leadership structure comprising members from industry, academia, and professional committees. Through its activities, AATCC aims to advance textile science, support quality testing, and promote best practices in the global textile community.