Yvonne Johnson is Senior Director of Product Development in the Product Development and Implementation Division at Cotton Incorporated. Based in Cary, North Carolina, she leads a team dedicated to advancing cotton innovation through the research and development of new cotton and cotton-rich textiles for apparel, home, and emerging markets. Her team engineers performance attributes in cotton by integrating advanced fabric constructions with specialized dyeing and finishing techniques, resulting in original developments that inspire brands, retailers, and mills worldwide. Many of these innovations have become part of the renowned FABRICAST™ Collection and have been adopted at retail, driving increased cotton use across the industry. 

With a career spanning apparel, home textiles, and automotive fabrics, Ms. Johnson brings extensive expertise in both woven and knitted textiles. Prior to joining Cotton Incorporated in 2007, she held a variety of design and development roles, led her own consultancy, and taught knit textile design at the university level. She remains an active supporter of apparel and textile education, serving as a mentor, judge, and committee member for student programs and industry events.

Ms. Johnson holds a bachelor of science in clothing and textiles and has completed coursework toward a master of design with a concentration in fiber art.