THERE IS NO TURNING BACK: ITMA 2023 MARKS A SIGNIFICANT TURNING POINT FOR TEXTILE INNOVATION, AI AND CREATIVITY
“ITMA showcased many new technical advances for digital textile printing, behind each was AI (at varying degrees), moving to eventually offer the ability to control and measure the entire process of production. By intelligently and automatically fine tuning each jetted ink drop, faulty print head, ink formulation, to ensure the efficient use of design, materials, and product application, whilst conserving natural resources and energy usage.” Debbie McKeegan for PIXEL to PARCEL
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY DEBBIE McKEEGAN: ORIGINALLY FEATURED ON PIXEL to PARCEL
There is NO Turning Back: ITMA 2023 Marks a Significant Turning Point for Textile Innovation, AI and Creativity.
ITMA, Milan 2023 showcased an unparalleled metamorphosis for the Textile Industry. After a hiatus of almost 4 years, the industry gathered with eyes-wide-open to discuss, experience, and to implement the many innovations that our industry so desperately needs to adopt, if we are to move to a regenerative, environmental footprint.
The Textile Industry must face up to a new legislative landscape.
Product certification and transparency will inform the consumer and in turn rewire the supply chain.
Driving this digital transformation is the need for systemic change across the supply chain. So much has changed across all tiers of manufacturing: The appetite and the requirement for sustainable sourcing now impacts fibre, materials, chemistry, product design and manufacturing process, workflow automation and product fulfilment - and all stakeholders are affected. This key market shift is not to be ignored.
The requirement for sustainable manufacturing process and the imminent impact of regulation and certification across the industry is accelerating change.
The facts speak for themselves and very soon manufacturers will have to calculate and report their environmental impact. Those that ignore the benefits of digital textile production will ultimately lose market share because their environmental impact will be too expensive for their clients’ portfolios.
The Environmental Impact of the Textile Industry is Real - There is NO Dress Rehearsal, the Future is NOW.
Simplicity was the key word at ITMA 2023. Technology that is autonomous, efficient, environmentally secure, built for purpose and programmed for intelligent manufacturing. Across the equipment field, the art of digital print has been fine-tuned. Digital no longer attempts to mirror analogue, because inkjet has replaced analogue, with speeds of 100sqm a minute now possible, digital is head-to-head with traditional print methods.
Digital ink jet offers a resource efficient solution, removing water and waste from the system whilst adding new functionality on an incredibly small footprint. Single-Step process is trending, and Pigment ink has evolved to become a new hybrid capable of producing stunning print quality and a soft delicate handle on the finest silks.
Adaptive print is also evolving and made an impact in Milan. Machinery is now available that can jet resin – gold or silver and XDi expandable inks to create beautiful surface effects with the finest details as seen in the beautiful couture garments created by Tatiana Pogrebnyak at ITMA using Kornit Digital XDi, Presto technology.
Web 4.0 is here to stay and AI is making an impact
Intelligent automation may seem to have silently edged into our industry, and yet AI has been around for years unleashing its power, on each and every process, singular transaction, or event. AI is now firmly in the public domain, and its beginning to make a positive impact on manufacturing machinery for digital textile production.
ITMA showcased many new technical advances for digital textile printing, behind each was AI (at varying degrees), moving to eventually offer the ability to control and measure the entire process of production. By intelligently and automatically fine tuning each jetted ink drop, faulty print head, ink formulation, to ensure the efficient use of design, materials, and product application, whilst conserving natural resources and energy usage.
Harnessing and measuring all of these production variables can now be achieved (seamlessly) to generate holistic, accurate, transparent data. Data that will be the new gold of printed production - saving resources, energy and manpower with every ink droplet, and every metre of digital textile print.
Collaboration and a Triumph of Creativity and Technology at ITMA 2023
Tatiana Pogrebnyak, is a fashion designer based in Israel, creating unique, bespoke garments for an international VIP client base. In a recent collaboration with Kornit Digital, Tatiana harnessed her creativity and Kornit’s innovative technology to create a ground-breaking fashion collection for ITMA 2023:
On-Demand Couture. Luxury garments and customised apparel, beautifully printed using XDi dimensional surface technology onto fine luxury fabrics, then crafted into an exquisite collection of garments. The results speak for themselves.
Tatiana explained her vision:
“I wanted to prove that we can bring together all aspects of regenerative design like upcycling and recycling using dead stock fabrics. I explored Kornit’s XDI technology (which is amazing) and printed onto challenging fabrics like Wool and Silk using remnants. On-Demand printing technology allows me to develop a design and just go and print it - and get amazing results on the spot”.
“What really blows my mind, it's just one machine that can do everything, with no minimum, it's really amazing” Tatiana concluded.
Tatiana’s recent collaboration with Kornit Digital further endorses the power of collaboration. Her creative curiosity and pragmatic approach combined with Kornit’s innovative technology pushes the boundaries of design and print towards a new landscape: a regenerative, circular manufacturing environment where everybody wins – People and Planet.
Great Minds Working Together to Bring about Systemic Change
Milan was engulfed by 111,000 visitors, spanning many generations, markets and manufacturing sectors. ITMA’s energy was palpable as was the appetite for material change and innovation.
The digitisation of our industry is well underway and is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Whilst the pandemic challenged the world in so many ways, it also highlighted the negative impact that each and every industry makes on our planet. And in doing so, united and focussed all generations on sustainability and the global collaboration required to achieve monumental change.
ITMA brought the global textile community to one centre, with one goal – Regenerative Reform.
A Century of Textiles, and an Ever-changing World
Few companies can trace their roots back more than a century and still count themselves among their industry's innovators. Texia, headquartered in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain, is one of them.
But the story of Texia is not simply one of longevity.
It is a story of continual reinvention. As the textile industry has grown more global and competitive, Texia has repeatedly reshaped its business, investing in technology, developing its own brands, and placing sustainability at the centre of its mission. In doing so, it offers a compelling example of how a heritage manufacturer can lead rather than follow through a period of profound industry change. Image Credit: Texia
What are we craving Ultimately?
The instinct to slow down while simultaneously optimising every measurable aspect of life isn't a passing curiosity. It's a structural response to a world that feels increasingly unstable, and it's reshaping what people expect from their homes, hotels, workplaces and healthcare environments alike.
For the design and manufacturing sectors, this means rethinking both product and process.
The Structual Shift is Real and its Already Here
Volumes are moving east, where digital production is accelerating rapidly. Consumer behaviour has shifted.
Demand is now driven by personalisation, shorter buying cycles, and an expectation of near-instant responsiveness. Regulatory pressure is intensifying, with supply chain transparency now a legal and commercial fact in many markets. And margins? They are under sustained, structural pressure.
This is not a temporary disruption. It is a fundamental reordering of how textile manufacturing must operate.
The Challenge: Standing Firm as the Industry Shifts
The wallpaper landscape has changed dramatically. Digital printing has lowered the barrier to entry, spawning countless direct-to-consumer brands and pushing much of the market towards faster, cheaper production.
At the same time, manufacturing in the UK has grown steadily harder - rising minimum wage, national insurance, energy and substrate costs all bear down on margins. Surface Print have embraced all of these challenges - and stand resolutely prepared for the future.
From Helsinki's printing mill to Paris's Le Marais, discover how Marimekko is scaling a design-led brand with purpose, craft, and bold innovation.
But what makes Marimekko's story compelling is not just its aesthetic legacy?
The word "toxic" carries weight. It conjures danger, harm, and things best avoided.
“Yet in the textile industry - Where between 3,000 and 10,000 chemicals move through the supply chain, a reflexive fear of the term is one of our biggest obstacles to progress.”
This article distils the key takeaways and what buyers, designers, and brands should be asking right now.
What Is the Digital Product Passport?
At its core, a Digital Product Passport is a digital record attached to a physical product - For a printed textile product, this means the DPP would capture data on the substrate, inks and dyes used, the printing process and technology, chemical compliance, environmental impact (including water and energy use), supply chain traceability, and end-of-life instructions.
The Market Gap that Changed Everything
Future Fashion was founded in 2019, timed deliberately to coincide with a pivotal moment in global textile technology: the commercial launch of the EFI Reggiani BOLT Single-Pass digital printing system.
The founders recognised that single-pass architecture had fundamentally changed what was industrially possible - and that Pakistan's domestic market had yet to catch up.
Print is no longer defined by the inefficiencies that once characterised it…as advances in production processes and technology have significantly improved its environmental performance.
Taran Rai, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Epson explains why?
The story of what happens when young designers access digital technology is still being written.
What once was a theoretical sustainability goal seems to have shifted into an active regulatory reality.
Is the Textile Market Finally Recovering?
After a difficult few years, there are genuine reasons for optimism. Duncan was candid about the challenges: "The market for textiles has been very difficult over the last three years. I'm not going to hide the truth there. But the tide is turning.“
A profound shift is currently reshaping the sector
Changing consumer expectations demand greater design diversity, faster turnaround times, and sustainable manufacturing practices.
To thrive, interior brands must adapt their supply chains, bringing production closer to the end consumer and moving away from bulk manufacturing.
Digital textile printing offers a definitive solution to these operational bottlenecks.
Digital transformation doesn't announce itself.
It accumulates - one innovation at a time - until an entire industry looks back and realises the ground has shifted beneath its feet. That's precisely where textiles stands today.
The conversations happening now about AI, automation, sustainability, and digital product passports are not theoretical. They are shaping decisions being made on factory floors and in boardrooms right now.
“By leveraging advanced digital textile printing, Marylene Madou has successfully merged traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Her approach offers a blueprint for how independent designers can scale their brands globally while maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.”
The textile industry is undergoing a vital transformation. As the insights from Techtextil and Texprocess reveal, the path forward relies on a combination of sustainable hardware, intelligent chemistry, and seamless digital workflows.
From Zimmer's industrial-scale energy reductions and Stratasys's on-demand 3D embellishments, to Kornit's single-step technical printing and the unified digital ecosystems of NedGraphics and Optitex, the tools for change are here. To stay competitive, brands and manufacturers must adopt these innovations, moving away from fragmented, wasteful processes towards a truly connected, circular economy.
Friedmans stands as a testament to the power of combining traditional textile knowledge with forward-thinking innovation.
“Operating from their UK headquarters, Friedmans now serves a diverse array of sectors, including swimwear, dance, entertainment, sportswear, interior decor, prosthetics, and even pet apparel. With a strategic supply chain that reliably serves clients worldwide”
The apparel decoration industry is decisively moving away from isolated, analogue production tools toward connected digital manufacturing environments.
"Kornit’s unwavering commitment to transformative technology continues to disrupt the status quo. For business leaders and innovators ready to capture the future of apparel manufacturing, the path forward is clear”
The Urgent Need for Sustainability at Scale
The transformation at Coats provides a vital blueprint for the wider textile and apparel sector. True sustainability cannot be achieved in silos. As Dearing emphasised:
“Cross-industry collaboration is the engine of meaningful change. Brands, machinery suppliers, chemical providers, and fibre producers must act as an interconnected ecosystem”
Today’s customers demand superior product quality, real-time data visibility, and lightning-fast turnaround times.
For large-scale garment decorators, managing these expectations while balancing seasonal demand fluctuations - such as the massive surges seen during Black Friday - presents a monumental challenge.
"Relying on transactional vendor relationships and outdated legacy equipment is no longer sufficient to secure long-term stability and growth.”
Printing method is never a secondary detail. It shapes the entire life cycle of a product, from concept to customer. In today’s fashion industry, where margins are tighter and speed matters more than ever, technical knowledge has become a competitive advantage.
“The future of textile design belongs to professionals who can combine creativity with execution, aesthetics with practicality, and vision with production reality”.
Are we witnessing the reinvention of Merch driven by adaptive, digital technologies?
The commercial opportunity presented by printed, personalised merchandise is already a lucrative revenue stream; it is the core driver of growth in a multi-billion-pound industry. And the mandate for print businesses is clear: automate, adapt, and offer undeniable added value, or choose to gradually lose market share.
Clay Cross – September 2026 – Resolute DTF has confirmed it will unveil its latest range of digital cutting solutions at The Print Show 2026, held at the NEC Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October.
The announcement reflects the company's continued commitment to advancing production efficiency across the DTF, vinyl, UV DTF transfer and label sectors.
Visitors to Stand P610 will be given a first-hand look at three cutting systems designed to address the industry's growing demand for accuracy, flexibility and streamlined workflows.
Hamamatsu, Japan – September, 2026 – Roland DG, a leading manufacturer of wide-format digital printing solutions, has announced the launch of the TrueVis MG2 Series, a next-generation UV printer/cutter range comprising the MG2-640 and MG2-300.
Designed to help print businesses increase profitability, the new series combines significantly higher productivity, exceptional print quality, advanced application capabilities and lower running costs in a single integrated UV Print & Cut solution.
September 2026 – Georg+Otto Friedrich GmbH, a fourth-generation German textile manufacturer, today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, North America's largest gathering of the print industry.
The company will exhibit at Booth C1996 from 23–25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The expo represents a pivotal opportunity for Georg+Otto Friedrich to demonstrate how warp-knitted polyester is reshaping the possibilities of digital printing.
Altrincham – Cheshire – Funki Fabrics has today released its Autumn/Winter 2026 fabric trend report, identifying four key directions set to define the season: warm neutrals, deep jewel tones, vampy cherry reds and dark, moody botanicals.
The report offers designers across dancewear, performance wear, costume and beyond a clear framework for translating seasonal colour and print movements into fabric choices.
According to Funki Fabrics, AW26 marks a decisive shift towards richer, more dramatic palettes.
Cool creams and pale beiges are giving way to toasted beige, camel and biscuit browns, offering warmth and versatility as either standalone tones or a base for bolder accents.
Colombo, Sri Lanka – September 2026 – Winterquilts (Pvt) Ltd., one of Sri Lanka's leading garment manufacturers and exporters, has invested in Coats Digital's award-winning GSDCost solution together with its newly launched AI-powered GSDQuest platform.
The move is designed to standardise garment costing, improve costing accuracy and accelerate Bill of Labour generation across the company's manufacturing operations.
London, UK – September 2026 – The Only Natural International Student Design Competition 2026, supported by Artsthread, has revealed its Category and People's Choice winners.
Selected from an exceptional field of entries from student designers across the globe, this year's winning projects span Fashion and Home, showcasing outstanding creativity, craftsmanship and innovation in the use of natural materials.
Bressanone – September 2026 – Durst Graphics today features its P5 350 CORE, a new 3.5-metre hybrid printing platform designed to serve as an accessible entry point into the wider Durst Ecosystem.
The system brings together proven technologies from across the P5 portfolio, offering print businesses a reliable and future-ready first step into industrial digital printing.
This machine reflects Durst's continued commitment to lowering the barrier to entry for print operators seeking dependable, scalable technology without compromising on quality or performance.
Peterborough -September 2026 – Snuggle, a leading trade fulfilment provider, has today announced it is the first company in Europe to install three Epson G9000 DTF systems, marking a significant expansion of its production capacity to meet surging demand from trade customers across the UK and Europe.
The graphic industry is changing at high speed. Automation, artificial intelligence, personalization, new materials and sustainability are transforming the way products are made while, at the same time, opening up new business opportunities for professionals in the sector.
Against this backdrop, C!Print Madrid 2027 will bring together manufacturers, distributors, printers and professionals from the printing and visual communication world at IFEMA MADRID from January 12 to 14, showcasing the technologies and trends driving this evolution.
This eleventh edition arrives with a strong market response: 90% of its more than 7,000 m² of exhibition space is already booked, with leading companies in the sector such as HP, Epson, Fujifilm, Roland DG, Mimaki, Digidelta and Konica Minolta, among others
Las Vegas – Nevada – September 2026 – BARBIERI electronics, a specialist in colour measurement technology, has announced its sponsorship of the G7+ Exchange, an industry gathering set to take place ahead of PRINTING United Expo 2026.
The event will bring together experts and professionals from across the printing sector to discuss advancements in colour management and print quality.
The G7+ Exchange will be held on 22 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N109, as part of the broader PRINTING United Expo.
FREMONT, CA. September, 2026– Fiery, LLC, the leading provider of digital front ends for the print industry, today announced it will host an exclusive webinar titled "Beyond CMYK: From more colours to more impact" on Tuesday, 6th October 2026 at 5:00pm CEST.
The 45-minute session will explore how commercial print businesses can move beyond the constraints of standard CMYK to unlock bolder colours, sharper precision, and stronger margins through expanded gamut printing.
As brands increasingly demand vibrant, exact colour matching, print providers who rely solely on standard CMYK risk falling behind.
London, UK – September 2026 – GREEN GRADS, the platform championing UK graduate eco-activists, will host a free hands-on workshop, Make Art from Waste, as part of the London Design Festival 2026.
Taking place on Monday, 14th September from 2-6pm at 21 Great Chapel Street, W1, the event invites participants to weave their own artwork from workplace textile waste, in partnership with the Surface Design Show.
Led by Green Grad and textile artist Claire Malley (@clairemalleyart), the workshop will guide attendees through the process of designing and weaving a unique piece using varied textile waste, including denim offcuts and recycled yarns.
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – September, 2026 – Epson will showcase its latest digital printing solutions at PRINTING United Expo 2026, the annual event bringing together the print industry to explore the latest innovations in commercial, apparel, packaging, wide-format and specialty printing.
Taking place Sept. 23-25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Epson will introduce new solutions for textile applications and showcase its extensive portfolio of commercial, industrial and business inkjet solutions.
Wilmington, Delaware – September 2026 – DuPont™ Artistri® Digital Printing Solutions today announced it will demonstrate fully automated direct-to-film (DTF) production live at its booth during the upcoming PRINTING United Expo.
Visitors will witness two Brown Manufacturing Group, Inc. automation lines running the complete DTF process from start to finish, offering a first-hand look at the technology reshaping the future of textile printing
Roland DG Europe has announced its renewed presence at Viscom 2026, the leading international exhibition for the visual communication industry.
The company will use the event as a platform to reinforce its position as an industry leader, while continuing to drive innovation and improvement across the sector.
Viscom 2026 will take place on 28th and 29th October at Allianz MiCo Milano, bringing together exhibitors, innovators, and decision-makers from across the visual communication landscape.r
Agfa will return to The Print Show for the third consecutive year, reinforcing its commitment to the UK print and signage market.
The event takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October 2026, with Agfa welcoming visitors to stand P510 in Hall 1.
This year, Agfa is bringing print technology, workflow software and real-world applications together to demonstrate a complete wide-format production environment.
Telford – UK – September 2026 – The Dlican DLI-360s from China print Supplies has probed to be an excellent investment for Promo Trade Print where it will be helping them meet the demand for personalised drinkware!
At The Print Show. from 29th September – 1 October 2026, CMYUK will launch its new Sign & Graphics Materials portfolio, bringing together a practical, commercially focused range of substrates for everyday display graphics, signage, décor and specialist print applications.
The new collection has been developed with a clear objective: to give customers a focused, reliable range of materials that covers their everyday application requirements, while removing unnecessary complexity from the product portfolio
Emmerich am Rhein, Nordrhein-Westfalen – September 2026 – Brother Industrial EMEA has announced that its DTRX direct-to-film (DTF) roll-to-roll printer will be demonstrated live at a special Textile Edition Open House, hosted by trusted dealer Vemar.
The event will take place on 25–26 September at Vemar's showroom in Paterno, Italy, giving visitors the chance to see the technology perform first-hand.
Crewe = Cheshire – UK – September 2026 Three new UV flatbed printers with updated automation and productivity capabilities, all equipped with next generation RasterLink workflow and RIP software will launch on the Hybrid stand at The Print Show
Mimaki has announced the introduction of three new UV flatbed printers: the large-format JFX220-2515, and the small-format UJF200 Series (UJF200-3042 and UJF200-6042).
Developed to make advanced UV printing easier to operate and more accessible to print service providers, the new products combine simplified workflows and increased automation to support more efficient, productive print operations.
Braintree, Essex – 2 September 2026 – Venture Banners, a leading UK trade-only large-format print supplier, will highlight its expanding textile signage range, including its newest solutions, at The Print Show 2026, taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC, Birmingham.
Frankfurt am Main, 7 September 2026 – Heimtextil has unveiled its Trends 27/28 forecast, titled 'Home-Maxxing – The Performance of Everyday Living', developed in collaboration with Milan-based design platform Alcova.
The forecast examines how efficiency-driven thinking and technology are reshaping the design of interior spaces and textiles across residential, hospitality, workplace and healthcare environments.
Leicester UK – September 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd has announced the delivery of its latest Veloblade Nexus cutting system this week, produced for Krit Patel and Printvision (UK) Ltd.
The milestone marks another significant step forward in the company's mission to lead the print finishing industry with precision engineering and innovative technology.
The Veloblade Nexus represents one of Vivid Laminating Technologies' most advanced digital cutting solutions to date.
MUTOH has announced that its XpertJet 661UF UV-LED flatbed printer has been named a 2026 Pinnacle Product Award winner, recognising the device's capacity to bring professional-grade UV-LED printing to businesses of all sizes.
The compact printer enables users to print directly onto objects up to 5.91 inches thick across a 19 × 23-inch print area, all within a footprint small enough to fit in the corner of a shop.
Accrington, UK, September 7, 2026: Soyang Europe will showcase three core products from the Platinum Technologies LIYU range on its stand at The Sign Show 2026.
Following its debut in 2025, The Sign Show will return to NEC Birmingham this autumn, once again co-located with established print industry exhibition The Print Show.
This year, the two events will run from 29 September to 1 October, with thousands of visitors expected across the shows.
Soyang, which exhibited at several previous editions of The Print Show, will take the largest stand in The Sign Show section of the hall, with a focus on its new distribution partnership with Platinum Technologies LIYU
Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 2026 – Dutch fashion designer Tess van Zalinge and Epson Europe have unveiled a limited-edition scarf collection to mark the tenth anniversary of the Tess van Zalinge label.
The collaboration demonstrates the creative and environmental possibilities of digital textile printing, while giving new life to archive designs spanning a decade of the label's history.
The collection revisits three archive prints selected by Van Zalinge from collections created over the past ten years
Dorking – UK – September 7th 2026 – FESPA has announced that entries are now open for the FESPA Awards 2027, the print and signage industry's longest-standing and only independent awards programme.
To encourage early participation, FESPA is offering a 50 per cent early bird discount on all entries submitted by 7 September 2026.
Entrants who secure the reduced rate will have until 2 December 2026 to finalise and refine their submissions, giving businesses ample time to present their work at its best.
Pointcarre, a leading provider of AI-powered textile CAD software, has highlighted its new AI-driven image upscaling feature designed to help textile designers restore and enlarge low-resolution pattern files without compromising design integrity.
The new capability addresses one of the most persistent challenges in the textile industry: working with legacy or low-quality design assets.
Klagenfurt, Austria – September 2, 2026 – J. Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH Klagenfurt and J. Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH Kufstein | Digital Printing Systems have announced the launch of "Zimmer 2028", a strategic transformation initiative that will unite the two operating companies into a single, unified organisation effective January 1st, 2028.
The initiative represents a decisive response to evolving market demands and increasing economic pressures facing the industrial printing and textile machinery sector.
