Epson continues to educate fashion designers, fashion entrepreneurs, and established brands about what’s possible with digitally printed textiles. Two days before Fashion Week 2017 begins in New York City, Epson will host its third annual Epson Digital Couture Project event on Feb. 7.
In addition to showcasing the works of designers from North America and Latin America, the 2017 Epson Digital Couture Project will highlight how Epson Group companies such as Robustelli and For.Tex are helping transform Como, Italy from a center of silk-making into a city that is leading the charge in state-of-the-art technology for fashion. An array of high-quality Robustelli-Epson textile samples will be displayed during the event.
Sharing Textile Stories
Supporting the theme of the 2017 Digital Couture Project “Textile Stories,” 13 design teams from North and Latin America will show how they are leveraging Epson’s textile printing solutions. They will emphasize the limitless design possibilities that advanced digital imaging technology has fueled.
“Our goal with the Digital Couture event is to spotlight the power and potential that digital printing technology plays in the apparel industry,” said Keith Kratzberg, president and CEO, Epson America, Inc. “From haute couture to sports team apparel, Epson technology gives designers and apparel manufacturers the digital platform necessary to launch the next great design.”
Each designer or design team will tell a story through their collection via textiles created with Epson dye-sublimation and direct-to-fabric printing technology. Attendees will see how each designer created fabrics that convey their signature style.
The featured designers and design teams include: Vanesa Krongold (Argentina); Daniel Barreira (Brazil); Sarah Stevenson (Canada); Daniela Hoehmann (Chile); Ricardo Pava, (Columbia): Daniel Del Barco and Sonia Chang (Costa Rica); Carlos de Moya (Dominican Republic); Miguel Moyano, Alex Polo, and Maria Susana Rivadeneira Simball (Ecuador); Leonardo Mena (Mexico); Susan Wagner (Peru); Lindsay Degan (U.S.); Sarah Richards (U.S.); and Kanbar College of Design Engineering and Commerce, Philadelphia University
At the Digital Couture Project, Epson’s global president, Minoru Usui will outline Epson’s continued vision for the role that digital technology will play in fashion. A panel of fashion and apparel industry experts will discuss market trends and the role of technology in fashion. The panel discussion will be moderated by Anthony Cenname, vice president and publisher at WSJ Magazine.
“For the third year in a row, the Epson Digital Couture event showcases how digital textile printing helps designers expand their vision for creativity without limits,” said Agustin Chacon, Epson America’s vice president of international marketing. “The future of fashion and technology is in the process of being shaped, and we are excited to be at the forefront of the industry – providing designers with printing solutions that offer a host of new and exciting opportunities.”
Introducing the Robustelli-Epson Brand
Epson and Robustelli have been working together since 2003, when Robustelli was developing its Monna Lisa series of digital textile printers. Epson acquired the company in June 2016 after acquiring For.Tex in 2015. For.Tex is a trusted provided of dyes, thickeners, and treatment agents.
The Epson Group plans to bring the advantages of digital textile printing to more customers around the world.
“New technologies from Epson are allowing designers to push the boundaries of color and quality while simultaneously giving creative teams incredible versatility and productivity. With the market for worldwide digital textile printing expected to grow annually at almost 25 percent, this is a very exciting opportunity,” Kratzberg added.
Epson Digital Textile Printing Solutions
Epson’s dye-sublimation and direct-to-garment printing technologies give entrepreneurs and established fashion brands a new level of creative freedom by enabling them to print on a variety of fabrics, including cotton and synthetic fibers.
The Epson SureColor® F-Series dye-sublimation printing technology gives designers an accessible means to bring their ideas and inspiration to life. The Epson UltraChrome® DS inkset in the SureColor F-Series includes an all new high density Black ink. This inkset delivers denser blacks, better tonal transitions and grayscale, plus rich colors and smooth gradations onto fabric.
The Wasatch SoftRIP workflow included with the SureColor F Series has specialized features for textile and fashion printing. The workflow enables designers to create and print original designs with greater flexibility and control.
The Epson SureColor F2000 Series direct-to-garment (DTG) inkjet printers can print digital images, art, and designs directly onto garments made from fabrics ranging from 100 percent cotton to 50/50 fabric blends.
The Epson SureColor F2000 Standard Edition is a high-speed CMYK-only model and the White Edition offers the added benefit of white ink for printing on dark or color fabrics.
Fashion designers and professionals interested in learning more about Epson’s digital printing technologies can visit www.proimaging.epson.com. For more information about Digital Couture, visit www.epson.com/nyfw.