PIXALILI CAPTURE NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH HP STITCH TECHNOLOGY FOR DIGITAL TEXTILE PRINTING ON DEMAND

“Pixalili typically produces short runs for its clients whilst also offering a database of designers from which customers can choose patterns for custom printed bespoke products. With an in-house sewing team, the company also offer a hemming service for home furnishings, accessories, lighting and upholstery”- PIXALILI

Located in the west coast of Ireland on the scenic Wild Atlantic Highway in Co. Donegal resides the textile printing company Pixalili.

Pixalili offer a new sustainable vision for the future of fabric printing. Donegal has a rich history in textiles – Donegal Tweed and Irish Linen are famous worldwide. As a family run business, the staff at Pixalili are proud to be part of the area’s heritage and its future utilizing digital textile printing technology.

Pixalili is both a textile printing company, a design studio, and a design archive with an inherent understanding of the requirements of the creative community.

Producing bespoke fabrics for designers and Etsy entrepreneurs alongside independents and retailers, the company initially invested in pigment technology for natural fabrics using eco-friendly inks. The business typically produces short runs for its clients whilst also offering a database of designers from which customers can choose patterns for custom printed bespoke products. With an in-house sewing team, the company also offer a hemming service for home furnishings, accessories, lighting and upholstery. 

With a growing demand for luxury Interior products such as velvet cushions and upholstery, chiffon scarves for fashion clients and other applications that demand stretch fabrics such as jersey for children’s wear and athleisure, the team decided to look into dye sublimation printing for the production of polyester products in-line with their plans to expand the business.

Dye sublimation technology offers an incredibly versatile selection of fabric applications and as such, offers many new opportunities for the future expansion of Pixalili.

As an established sector of the print marketplace there are numerous dye sublimation technologies on offer and finding the right partner demanded extensive research. As a small business choosing the appropriate technology platform was an essential factor to the success of the project and so the team visited numerous trade shows to witness the technology first-hand and speak to the application specialists in real-time. Finally choosing the HP Stitch S300 after seeing a demonstration at the Print Show (UK) provided by HP supplier RA Smart.

Ease of use was also a determining factor - the HP Stitch presents a suite of technologies which together create an impressive portfolio of both print technology and software combined.

In delivering super-fast, predictable colour matching either via transfer printing or direct to fabric print, the machine successfully addresses a key pain-point for Pixalili. Accurate colour management is an important deliverable for the digital textile print service provider - poor colour management creates wasted time, ink, paper, fabric and unhappy customers. The HP Stitch machine’s inherent smart technology for unattended printing and self-maintenance also made it the perfect choice for Pixalili.

Pixalili have now welcomed the HP Stitch to their family business where all the print machines have names.

The Stitch is now a tried and tested (and much loved) addition to the printer family and has a new name – Polly. “Customers are excited by the exceptional quality of the print and the new fabrics on offer which have received a fantastic response. We see the Stitch being very, very busy providing high quality custom printed fabrics to our worldwide client base” said Noreen Harding of Pixalili.

The diversity of the Pixalili customer base demands manufacturing versatility.

For example, customers in Iceland are looking for ethically made and eco-friendly products, while in the USA and Ireland their Irish Linen is held in high regard. European clients also rely on Pixalili for personalised swimwear. The company also have their eye on sustainable textiles and are currently also focused on expanding their popular environmentally friendly fabric range.

“Thanks to the HP Stitch we can become a one-stop shop for existing customers and respond to the demands of new buyers and markets. This is our first-time using dye-sub and it opens up new avenues for us. RA Smarts have proved to be an outstanding partner in our journey, offering a wealth of knowledge, trusted advice and exceptional service”. Founder - Noreen Harding.

As an innovative company with creativity at their heart, Pixalili work in partnership with their client base to enable collaborative success.

In utilizing digital textile printing and embracing disruptive technologies the future of textile manufacturing on the west coast of Ireland is in safe hands.