EPSON SIGNS FASHION PRINT DEAL

Epson Australia and the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) have signed an official partnership cementing Epson as the AFC’s exclusive Digital Print and Projection Partner.

 

The partnership with Epson supports the AFC's ability deliver its goals to help build future onshore manufacturing capability, develop future skills and career pathways to boost economic security for the industry, and transition the industry to a sustainable, circular economy by 2030.

Both organisations say they are also looking forward to exploring new sustainability initiatives for the fashion industry, including applications for the latest digital textile printing technology.

Craig Heckenberg, managing director of Epson Australia, said, “Epson prides itself on being an innovative technology leader and a champion of sustainable practices. Our commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability are in perfect alignment with the AFC’s values – which is why this partnership is good news for the Australian fashion and textiles industry.”

Epson says its Monna Lisa direct-to-fabric textile printer series, has “real potential” for the Australian industry, as it combines performance and usability to meet the need for flexibility and sustainability.

Heckenberg continued, “Traditional printing techniques, such as screen-printing, use high volumes of water and harsh chemicals that if not processed and treated properly, can end up in waterways. Monna Lisa printers give organisations the ability to do short runs within made to order purchasing workflows - both excellent ways to reduce over ordering and over consumption in our industry.”

 

AFC CEO, Leila Naja Hibri, said, “The AFC seeks collaborative values-aligned partnerships to help us in our mission to guide the just transformation of Australian’s fashion and textile industry to a thriving circular economy by 2030. Epson’s strong commitment and proven capabilities at unlocking innovative technology that advances sustainable practice makes them a perfect partner for the AFC and our industry. Their digital textile printing and projection technology, which has been proven to be transformational in other global markets, has the potential to provide significant learnings and benefits to the Australian industry”.

Another example of Epson’s technology creating and adding value in the fashion industry came recently, when French fashion brand Petit Bateau changed its business strategy and opted for a Monna Lisa digital production solution.

Petit Bateau prints 2.5 million linear metres of fabric per year using various textile printers and the integration of Monna Lisa means that the brand has now evolved to support a new, more virtuous product model. Petit Bateau has now shifted to on-demand manufacturing, which enables the brand to improve its profitability and its environmental footprint, while controlling the entire value chain.

Hibri said, “As the Australian fashion and textile industry begins its transition to a circular economy, Epson’s innovative fabric printing technology will be a great enabler to smaller batch and on-demand manufacturing. Due to growing demand for ethically manufactured fashion, as well as global trends and regulations requiring the same, new approaches like these are critical to the success of our industry’s national clothing product stewardship scheme, Seamless, which aims to change the way Australians design, consume and recycle clothing.”

Heckenberg concluded, “Epson offers proven technology and solutions designed and developed specifically for local, onshore manufacturing and textile printing. Epson is also fully committed to collaborative partnerships that embrace sustainability across the Australian fashion and textile industry and this new partnership with the AFC is an excellent example of that commitment in practice.”