Industry Insights & Opinion
GEEENGRADS: Lydia Hill wins the Epson ECO STORIES Textile Challenge at the Surface Design Show, London
“Design can better our world by expanding empathy and education, to increase awareness – that’s why I am a GREEN GRAD” - Lydia Hill.
"After many years of feeling out of place, I have found like-minded people who share my passion for the planet. Amazing advice from industry professionals has given me the confidence and encouragement to pursue my goals and aim higher than before.”
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Digital Textile Evolution -Why Epson's Monna Lisa Technology Represents the Future of Sustainable Print Production
Traditional analogue printing processes have held the textile industry captive for decades, perpetuating a cycle of environmental destruction and economic inefficiency. The statistics are real: conventional textile production consumes excessive water resources, generates substantial energy demands, and creates mountains of unsold inventory that ultimately end up in landfills or sold at devastating losses.
This approach doesn't just harm the environment—it destroys profitability and stifles innovation.
INDUSTRY DEBATE: How Smart Software paired with Print Technology is Transforming DTF
DTF printing has experienced explosive growth since 2019, transforming from a niche application to a mainstream solution
"Modern DTF software solutions have evolved far beyond simple print drivers. They now incorporate advanced colour management systems that can automatically adjust ink density based on design complexity, implement sophisticated rasterisation patterns that reduce ink usage whilst maintaining visual quality, and provide automated workflow tools that eliminate common operator errors" Michael Chramtchenko of Fiery.
DESIGN ICONS: The Story Behind the Interior Décor Brand - Mini Moderns' Global Success
In a world of infinite digital possibilities, pattern with a story remains as powerful as ever.
Nearly two decades after launching Mini Moderns in 2006, these London-based designers have built something remarkable: a globally recognised British brand that has weathered industry upheavals, company closures, and changing market conditions whilst maintaining their distinctive creative voice.
Their journey offers profound insights for any creative looking to build something lasting.
INDUSTRY EVENT: Discover How Digital Textile Innovation and DPP Legislation are Transforming Sustainable Production
Join the Textile Innovation Event
This knowledge-sharing event brings together industry professionals to explore the key technologies and trends driving sustainable textile manufacturing. It provides a crucial opportunity for anyone in the fashion, textile, and design sectors to understand how to prepare for a changing landscape and secure a more sustainable future.
This event's significance extends far beyond networking—it represents a crucial opportunity for industry stakeholders to understand how emerging technologies and regulatory changes can and will transform challenges into competitive advantages.
INDUSTRY EVENT: The TRAPIS and More: Are You Missing Out on the Future of Printing?
This is your invitation to move beyond speculation and experience the technologies that will define commercial textile printing's next chapter.
The sessions are deliberately limited to ensure meaningful engagement and genuine learning opportunities.
The question facing every textile business today is simple: Will you shape the industry's future or merely respond to changes others have initiated?
Register now for the TRAPIS & More: Mimaki Textile Sessions on the 14th and 15th of October at Hybrid Services in Crewe and discover how these breakthrough technologies can unlock your commercial potential.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: The New Wallpaper: How Digital Printing and AI are Redefining Interior Design
To understand the power of this new business model we spoke to we spoke to the Caro Group in Poland.
“Customer expectations for personalisation, speed, and sustainability are soaring. Generic, mass-produced products no longer satisfy the modern consumer's desire for unique self-expression. Businesses still clinging to outdated, inefficient manufacturing models are finding themselves unable to compete.”
“The challenge is clear: adapt or be left behind.”
INDUSTRY EVENTS: Print Innovation - Why Printing United, Orlando 2025 Will Define Your Business Future
The Harsh Reality Facing the Print Industry Today Isn't Just Technological Disruption—it's Technological Paralysis.
While agile competitors are integrating AI solutions, embracing sustainable practices, and diversifying into lucrative new markets, too many print businesses remain frozen, clinging to traditional mindsets. The result is a widening chasm between industry leaders and the rest, with profound implications for market share, profitability, and long-term survival.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Why Size Matters and Why the Apparel Industry Can No Longer Afford to Get It Wrong
The apparel industry is at a crossroads. We can either continue down the wasteful and inefficient path of the past, or we can embrace a future where data, technology, and collaboration combine to solve one of our oldest and most expensive problems.
Creating a consistent and accurate sizing strategy is no longer a "nice-to-have"; it is a commercial imperative.
The tools and data are now available to make this a reality. It's time for brands to stop working in silos and start building a supply chain where information is shared openly and standards are upheld rigorously. Only then can we create garments that truly fit our customers, reduce our environmental impact, and build a more sustainable and profitable future for the industry.
THE FUTURE OF FASHION: How Robotic Automation and Digital Adhesives Are Revolutionising Apparel Manufacturing
By bringing manufacturing closer to home, brands can respond to trends in real-time, drastically improve their sell-through rates, and operate with a far lighter environmental touch. CreateMe’s approach aligns perfectly with the macro trend towards distributed, on-demand production, offering a blueprint for a more agile, efficient, and sustainable future.
TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT: Competitive Advantage - Why Technology Adoption Cannot Wait
The technologies and innovations showcased in recent product launches via Texintel represent more than incremental improvements—they constitute a fundamental reimagining of how textile manufacturing can and should operate.
FUTURE VISION: New Developments and Market Trends Reshaping Decor and Apparel Manufacturing for 2026 and Beyond
Transforming Textiles: What began as a digital transformation driven by consumer demands for personalisation and shorter lead times has evolved into a fundamental restructuring of how printed textiles are conceived, designed, and manufactured. As we advance towards 2026, digital textile printing has emerged as the cornerstone of a new manufacturing paradigm that prioritises sustainability, efficiency, and technological integration.
INNOVATION: AI-Driven Transformation: 5 Game-Changing Strategies for Textile Print Businesses
The question facing every textile printing business today isn't whether to adopt AI, but how quickly and strategically they can transform their operations to capture its full potential.
"The real opportunity lies in what industry experts call "AI-powered strategic thinking"—using artificial intelligence not just to do things faster, but to fundamentally reimagine how your business operates, creates value, and serves customers” - Debbie McKeegan | Texintel
INDUSTRY DEBATE: Building Resilient Textile Industries: Does the Tech Revolution offer a Lifeline?
Fashion needs a Reinvention and a Restructure of existing Supply Chains.
“The most successful companies will likely be those that combine technological sophistication with values-driven partnerships, geographic diversification with local expertise, and operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. As these industry leaders demonstrate, the future belongs to organisations that can navigate complexity whilst maintaining focus on long-term value creation...”
"Traditional supply chain factories try to do a plug and play, and it doesn't necessarily work." Joey Pringle - Vision Factory
RESEARCH: Do You Really Get What You Pay For? New Study Reveals Price is Not a Reliable Indicator of T-Shirt Durability
This research, once again highlights an urgent need for a fundamental re-evaluation of the fashion supply chain's cost analysis.
The focus must shift from short-term cost savings to long-term sustainability and value creation. Investing in higher-quality materials and improved manufacturing practices will not only enhance garment durability but also enable true circularity, reducing environmental impact and waste. These changes will pave the way for a more responsible and future-proof textile industry.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Why Compliance and Regulation Offers a Generational Opportunity to Build a Sustainable Manufacturing Ecosystem
Amidst mounting regulatory pressures and increasing consumer demands for transparency, many manufacturers view compliance as a burden. Yet a closer examination reveals something far more significant: a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how we produce, trade, and consume textiles.
The future belongs to those who transform compliance into competitive advantage, turning regulatory requirements into roadmaps for sustainable success.
Barriers and Bridges: Key Insights from the Global Fashion Summit - Copenhagen 2025
Barriers and Bridges: Key Insights from the Global Fashion Summit 2025
"The Summit set the stage with sobering statistics about climate change. With 150 extreme weather events in 2024 affecting 3.6 billion people globally, the urgency for sustainable practices couldn’t be more critical. Fashion’s role in this crisis is profound, from its resource-intensive production processes to its rapid consumption cycles." says Debbie McKeegan, FESPA Textile Ambassador.
FESPA INSIGHTS: The Art of Smart Interior Decoration – Innovation, Industry Insights at the Fespa SmartHUB
"Advancements in printing technology are fundamentally reshaping creative Interior industries," says Debbie McKeegan, FESPA Textile Ambassador.
"The ability to implement intricate designs on traditional and unconventional materials is not merely a technical achievement - it is a catalyst for entirely new design methodologies and market opportunities. Paving the way for bold innovations in both functionality, durability and surface aesthetics.”
FESPA INSIGHTS: Rewiring the Printed Fashion and Apparel Industry through Smart Manufacturing with Industry Experts
At the recent FESPA Smart Hub in Berlin, Industry leaders including experts Marc Verbeem from Mimaki, Joao Sa of ROQ, George Benglopoulos of PolyPrint, and Jayson Tompkins of Stahls shared their insights into how smart manufacturing technology is reshaping the way printed apparel and textiles are produced. “Smart manufacturing is no longer the Future; It’s Today’s Necessity. Act now to keep your print operations ahead of the curve”
Debbie McKeegan, FESPA Textile Ambassador
FESPA INSIGHTS: Industry Experts Explore the Evolution of Smart Manufacturing in the Textile Industry
Smart manufacturing is no longer a concept of the future but a tangible reality driving today’s textile industry. By leveraging print automation, predictive analytics, and sustainable practices, businesses have the opportunity to achieve operational excellence while meeting evolving consumer expectations.
If your business is ready to take the leap into smart manufacturing, consider partnering with technology providers who align with your vision of sustainability and smart solutions. The era of agile production is here, and now is the time to embrace it.