GRADUATES 2023 - MEET TEXTILE DESIGNER SARAH MILLS WINNER OF THE EPSON DESIGN AWARD
Sarah Mills wins the Epson “Design in Context” Textile Design Award 2023
Sarah has an natural talent for Interiors, she appreciates and nurtures the relationship between texture and print.
Welcome to the Texintel Graduates 2023 interview series showcasing a snapshot of talent creatives emerging from university here in the UK.
In todays episode we interview Sarah Mills a graduate from Birmingham City University and the winner of the Epson “Design in Context” Award and an Epson SureColor desktop Dye Sublimation printer.
SARAH MILLS
HIDDEN IN THE WETLANDS
Sarah Mills is a final year Textile Design student with a passion for the Great British countryside. Her love of this has influenced her final project, where she has created designs based on the lost beauty of the great outdoors.
GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF YOUR PROJECT
I've been on a mission to capture the breathtaking beauty of the British countryside and highlight the diverse wildlife that lives in it. I aim to design a commercial luxury interior collection of woven, etched, and printed fabrics in order to celebrate the beauty that is quickly becoming lost in our countryside. The outcome of the project aims to produce long-lasting luxury fabrics that could be applied to several products in the home, these consisting of curtains, wallpapers, lampshades, and cushions.
With my camera and sketchbook in hand, I have managed to capture moments in time, portraying the movement and behaviour of these wader birds. I was able to capture some really magical moments and have shown these through my collection of work with the aim to inspire action by highlighting the thriving animals in an untouched habitat.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CONCEPT?
I have always felt inspired by nature and the endless possibilities it has for designs. During my exploration around Shropshire and Mid Wales, I uncovered the unfortunate truth that the farming industry, along with human interference, is having a negative impact on local wildlife, particularly the endangered Curlew. These large wader birds nest in areas with long grass and rough vegetation during spring, but silaging has destroyed many nests and eggs, making it challenging for them to reproduce successfully. Being an animal lover myself, I hope I have created a collection that reminds people of the vital importance of preserving and looking after our natural world.
WHAT PROCESSES HAVE YOU BEEN USING?
I have been using several processes including ink painting, mark making, digital printing, laser etching, dobby and jacquard loom weaving and traditional registration bar printing.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH YOUR PROJECT?
I want to create beautiful designs that are well crafted and have a luxury appeal whilst also highlighting the importance of the diminishing life in our countryside.
HOW HAS YOUR COURSE HELPED YOU TO PREPARE FOR WORKING ON YOUR PROJECT?
The course has really placed me in good stead to work on my final university project; the information provided has allowed me to develop my designs to create the best work I possibly can for my final project of my degree.
We wish Sarah and her 2023 cohort every success and welcome them into the textile industry.
Ballymena – June 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd has announced the successful completion of the world's first installation of its revolutionary Razar print finishing system at Ballyprint, a multi-award-winning commercial print specialist based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
The milestone installation, carried out by Vivid technicians Nathan Tacey and Matthew Milnes, marks a significant moment for the print finishing industry.
Ballyprint, led by Director Aaron Klewchuk, is one of Northern Ireland's leading print providers, specialising in litho, digital, and large format printing.
Milan, Italy – June 2026 – Viscom Italia has announced that supply chain transparency and sustainable innovation will take centre stage at Viscom 2026, scheduled for 28–29 October at Allianz MiCo Milano.
The event will bring together industry professionals to explore how optimised logistics, traceable materials, and increasingly efficient processes are reshaping the visual communications sector.
As sustainability becomes a defining priority across industries, Viscom 2026 will address the growing demand for end-to-end green practices — examining how businesses can make their projects truly sustainable from conception to delivery.
Barnsley – South Yorkshire – June 2026 – Sabur Digital has introduced the DGI Artemis Grande Direct Sublimation Printer, a cutting-edge solution engineered to redefine high-volume textile production.
Designed for forward-thinking businesses that demand exceptional print quality alongside maximum productivity, the Artemis Grande delivers true direct-to-fabric sublimation printing at an unprecedented scale, addressing the urgent industry need for more efficient manufacturing processes..
Brixen, Italy – June, 2026 – Durst Group will celebrate its 90th anniversary with the Durst NEXT Technology Festival, taking place on June 25 and 26, 2026, at the company’s headquarters in Brixen, South Tyrol.
Founded in 1936, Durst has grown from its roots in photographic imaging into a global company for digital production and industrial printing.
Under the guiding idea “Our World is Printed”, the anniversary year reflects on the company’s heritage while looking ahead to the technologies, partnerships and ideas that will shape the next phase of industrial production.
Ede : Netherlands June 2026 – Fashion designer Tess van Zalinge experienced the moment her digital designs transformed into vibrant printed fabric during a visit to Nauta Textile, where she witnessed first-hand the capabilities of Epson's Monna Lisa textile printing technology.
Nuneaton, UK – June 2026 – Award-winning social enterprise Nuneaton Signs has purchased its third Veloblade machine from Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, marking a significant milestone in the company's continued investment in cutting-edge signage technology.
The purchase further cements the relationship between the two organisations and underscores Nuneaton Signs' position as one of the UK's leading signage manufacturers.
Altrincham – June 2026– Friedmans Ltd and Funki Fabrics are proud to celebrate ten years of ColourMe, their bespoke fabric personalisation platform, with the launch of two brand-new colour palettes inspired by their popular Matt Nylon and Shiny Nylon ranges.
Since its inception, ColourMe has provided designers across the dancewear, activewear, swimwear, and performance costume industries with a streamlined way to personalise printed fabrics.
With access to over 400 prints from Friedmans' design library, designers can adapt colours to align with their collection, team, or brand identity — all with professional precision.
Gistel - Belgium June – 2026– Summa today highlighted the production advantages of its L Series laser cutters over traditional knife cutting for textile workflows, citing higher throughput, superior edge quality and a workflow built to scale with growing demand.
For manufacturers running large textile jobs, cutting technology can determine how many jobs reach completion in a single shift.
The L Series laser cutters are designed to meet that demand, offering continuous high-speed cutting that keeps production moving without the interruptions and post-processing that knife cutting often requires.
Leading manufacturer of premium self-adhesive films for architectural window graphics, Lintec Europe, has strengthened its UK demonstration and technical support capability with the installation of a Mimaki UCJV330-160 UV printer cutter at its High Wycombe headquarters.
London, UK – June 2026 – Epson UK & I proudly extends its heartfelt congratulations to renowned design journalist and photographer Barbara Chandler MBE, following her recent recognition with an MBE for outstanding services to the design industry.
This prestigious accolade highlights her lifelong dedication to advancing design excellence and underscores the critical importance of fostering environmentally responsible practices within the creative sector.
Bogotá, Colombia - June 2026: Across Latin America, a new generation of entrepreneurs are rethinking the future of fashion, design, packaging, and materials.
From textile waste recovery and upcycled product design to recycled plastics, reusable logistics solutions, and biodegradable packaging, these innovators are addressing some of the fashion industry’s most urgent challenges: overproduction, waste, material inefficiency, and the environmental impact of supply chains.
At the center of this movement isREIN Hubs (Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Nature), a multi-country platform redefining how nature-based entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, and sustainable economic development are built across the region.
VeriVide Limited, a leading authority in colour assessment and appearance measurement, has concluded an exceptional two-week period on the global exhibition circuit, showcasing its industry-leading technology at Interplas UK, PLAST Milan, and ITM Exhibition Turkey.
The three events provided VeriVide with a powerful platform to engage with manufacturers, innovators, and colour quality specialists across the plastics and textiles industries.
Barcelona - 2026 – Premier Digital Textiles made a significant impact at FESPA 2026, partnering with Epson Europe B.V. to showcase the capabilities of its high-performance PrepRITE® Fabrics on the Epson Monna Lisa and SureColor print series.
The collaboration drew considerable attention from industry professionals, demonstrating what is achievable when advanced print technology meets precision-engineered fabric.
The partnership with Epson Europe provided an ideal platform to highlight the critical role that fabric selection plays in realising the full potential of digital textile printing.
Accrington, UK, June 16, 2026: Soyang Europe has announced that Soyang Technologies has secured the prestigious SEAQUAL® Certificate from the SEAQUAL Initiative, reinforcing its focus on sustainable production.
The SEAQUAL Initiative comprises a community of organisations, businesses, and individuals who work together to remove plastic waste from oceans, rivers, beaches, and coastlines.
This is then converted by licensed manufacturers into SEAQUAL Marine Plastic, a high-quality, traceable raw material used in a range of applications, including the creation of textiles.
Three GREEN GRADS Receive Prestigious Green Concept Awards for Sustainable Innovations
BERLIN, Germany - [JUNE 2026] – Three forward-thinking designers from the GREEN GRADS initiative have been honoured with Green Concept Awards at a distinguished ceremony in Berlin. Established in 2013 to recognise sustainable innovation, the international awards programme received 2,100 submissions from 50 countries this year. The recognition highlights the urgent need to address industry-wide environmental challenges through ethical, regenerative design practices.
Faversham - Kent - June 2026 – Prinfab, an industry-leading innovator in textile printing, has announced its contribution to the highly anticipated Take That Circus tour, currently playing to packed stadiums across the United Kingdom.
The company manufactured and supplied 415 metres of custom-printed fabric, which was skilfully transformed into stunning stage costumes by acclaimed designers Michael Sharp, Olivia Musson, and their dedicated production team.
Munich, Germany – Munich Fabric Start, one of the world's leading international fabric and sourcing trade fairs, has announced five defining trend themes for the Autumn/Winter 2027 season: Quiet Disruption, Ceremonial, Drifting, Intimate, and Inheritance.
The themes will be showcased at the Trend Foyer during Munich Fabric Start, taking place from 14 to 16 July in Munich.
Each of the five directions offers a distinct cultural and aesthetic perspective on where materials, design, and creative thinking are heading. Together, they form a cohesive yet nuanced picture of the forces shaping the fashion and textile industries in the seasons ahead.
MOSS UK has announced the arrival of the Durst P5 TEX iSUB, a powerful new addition to its production line that brings high-speed, high-quality textile printing capabilities in-house.
The investment significantly expands the company's capacity to deliver vibrant fabric graphics for a wide range of branded experiences.
Timed to coincide with World Cup season, the new signing represents a major upgrade to the MOSS UK squad.
From 19 – 22 May, FESPA 2026 comprising FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest, Corrugated and Textile welcomed visitors from the speciality print, signage, packaging, personalisation, wrapping and textile sectors to the Fira de Barcelona.
The event was the first flagship exhibition in Southern Europe since 2012 and, with six co-located events and three conference programmes under one roof, it was its most varied and multi-faceted to date.
Massive, a specialist provider of services to mass participation charity and outdoor events, has successfully delivered a series of high-performance floor graphics for the 2026 TCS London Marathon, utilising Alumigraphics Grip from Soyang Europe to meet the demanding requirements of one of the world's most celebrated road races.
Doncaster UK – June 2026 – Heatherbank Print has expanded its production capabilities with the purchase of the multi-award-winning Veloblade Nexus, the latest cutting and creasing innovation from Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd.
The investment marks the next chapter in a partnership spanning more than a decade between the two companies.
Guanzate – Italy- June 2026 – MS Printing Solutions has announced that both of its Italian production plants, covering machinery and inks, have officially secured Triple ISO Certification.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to operational excellence, environmental responsibility, and workplace safety.
FESPA is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Anders Nilsson, former FESPA President and longstanding Board Member, whose contribution to FESPA and its global print community was significant and enduring.
Anders served as President of FESPA from 2007 to 2010 during a pivotal period of international growth and innovation for FESPA.
STAHLS' UK & EU has highlighted the availability of an expanded range of premium garments and innovative heat transfers, engineered specifically to support the rapidly evolving streetwear market.
By providing access to high-quality, ethically sourced materials and cutting-edge customisation tools, the company aims to help fashion designers and brand owners execute their creative visions without compromising on sustainability or detail.
Dublin, Ireland – June 2026 – digitalprint.ie, a trusted supplier of digital printing equipment and media to signmakers and printing companies across Ireland, has completed the preparation and delivery of an Epson SureColor S9100 wide-format printer to a Dublin-based customer.
The deployment marks another example of the company's commitment to ensuring clients are operational from the moment equipment arrives on-site.
Unlike a standard equipment delivery, Digitalprint.ie carries out comprehensive preparation, configuration, and testing of every printer before it leaves their warehouse.
Lambrate – June 2026 – Viscom Italia has officially announced a transformative new format for its upcoming trade exhibition, revealing the strategic overhaul during the 12th edition of Elementaria at the Ventura Garden in Lambrate.
The highly anticipated Viscom event, scheduled for the 28th and 29th of October at the prestigious Allianz MiCo, will feature a condensed two-day programme designed to optimise resources, foster high-quality industry engagements, and champion sustainable exhibition practices.
Today’s buyers want e-commerce stores and print businesses to offer intuitive tools that let them create their own designs and receive high-quality, customized garments quickly and efficiently.
Personalized apparel orders help print businesses make better use of the Kornit Atlas MATRIX by keeping the machine busy while generating higher-margin sales.
With Antigro Designer and the Kornit Atlas MATRIX, print shops can turn personalized apparel into a profitable element of their production.
Derby – June 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd today announced a pivotal partnership with Derby Sign and Graphics, marking a significant advancement in the signage and print finishing industry.
Nur Ink Innovations today features a high-speed, sheet-to-sheet (S2S), powder-free Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing platform, designed to fundamentally restructure the economics of on-demand textile fulfilment.
The platform consolidates what has traditionally been a multi-stage production process into a single, streamlined workflow — with significant implications for floor space, operational efficiency, and capital investment.
Eckbolsheim - France- 9 June 2026 – Caldera, a leading software provider for the digital printing industry, has announced an exclusive live virtual event scheduled for 10 June 2026 at 17:00 CET.
The webinar will officially showcase PrimeCenter 5, the latest iteration of its prepress software, which features a powerful new built-in File Editor designed to eliminate critical production bottlenecks.