“Everything that isn’t made by nature has been designed. That means design holds immense power—not only in shaping the crises we face but also in solving them.”

These are the words of Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer at the Design Council, and they couldn’t ring truer in 2025.

The textile industry is at a turning point. Traditional manufacturing processes that have dominated for decades are giving way to sophisticated digital workflows that promise greater efficiency, sustainability, and precision. As global supply chains become increasingly complex and consumer demands shift toward personalisation and faster turnaround times, textile manufacturers must embrace technological innovation to remain competitive.

What makes this relationship unique is its foundation in shared problem-solving, rather than traditional supplier relationships. As Nakazato describes it: "We are both fashion designers and engineers, working together as a collaborative, experimental team..."

The Growth Trap: Why Bigger Doesn’t Always mean Better

“The Fashion industry's obsession with volume has created a dangerous pattern. Companies chase growth through increased production, lower prices, and expanded market presence—often at the expense of profitability”.

Source Fashion, London - Simon Platts, founder of SP&KO Consultancy and former Director of Responsible Sourcing at ASOS

“Printing technology is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead requires both innovation and adaptability”

Digital garment decoration offers the print industry an accelerating commercial opportunity. It has become a core business segment driven by increasing demand for personalisation, quick turnaround times, and sustainability. Yet, with growth comes challenges. Rivera sheds light on how Fiery and Epson are partnering to not just address these challenges, but also lead innovation in this space.

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.

"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.”

KEY FINDINGS:

• Economic Contribution: The branded clothing retail sector contributed €331.8 billion to the EU’s GDP, accounting for 2% of total GDP, and supported 4.5 million jobs, equivalent to 2% of total employment in the EU. 

• Employment: The sector directly employs 1.3 million people, with an additional 3.2 million jobs supported indirectly and through induced effects.  Notably, 63% of employees in the sector are women. 

• Global Trade: The EU is a major player in global trade for branded clothing products, ranking as the largest importer of apparel (28% of global imports) and the second-largest exporter of bags (28%) and footwear (17%).

There is no need to enforce behavioural change. There is no need to ban high-emitting activities or impose immediate penalties. The act of disclosure alone begins to shift the terrain. Because this is not a symbolic gesture. It is a new lens on value itself.

By forcing carbon risk into the structure of reported profit, this approach does what sustainability pledges never could.

Shivam Gusain - Founder at Decypher

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

Arvind Limited, one of India’s largest textile manufacturers, is building what it calls a 'near carbon neutral' wet processing facility, a part of the supply chain typically ignored by brands, underfunded by VCs, and misunderstood by climate advocates.

But the numbers behind this factory make it look less like a sustainability initiative and more like a carbon abatement powerhouse.

The Free Trade Agreement may unlock access, but only experience unlocks success.

In a cost-sensitive industry, building lasting, thoughtful partnerships with Indian manufacturers takes more than great design – it takes shared understanding. By treating production as a creative collaboration, brands can move beyond outsourcing into real partnership – where care, clarity, and craftsmanship combine to create collections with soul.

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.

At FESPA 2025 in Berlin, Adobe made waves with the launch of its Adobe PDF Print Engine 7 update, stacked with significant applications to support the print industry, and offering a powerful suite of tools set to further enable the automation of many mundane functions that the printer must execute in printed production. Through advanced automation, enhanced colour management, and support for sustainable practices, Adobe Print Engine 7 sets a new benchmark for digital printing capabilities.

Fespa 2025 proved to be more than just a meeting point for industry leaders. It was a dynamic showcase of how innovation and application intertwine to push boundaries.

With personalisation and automation shaping the future and sustainability at its core, the print industry is poised to move into 2026 with purpose and confidence - Stay innovative, Stay competitive.

For many textile and fashion designers, balancing creative expression with operational efficiency is a considerable challenge. Traditional design workflows are often plagued by repetitive manual tasks, siloed tools, and inefficient communication between designers and manufacturers. These issues result in extended timelines, costly errors, and wasted resources, particularly during sampling and production.

What stood out most from this panel wasn’t just the insight, it was the alignment. Everyone agreed that UK manufacturing isn’t just viable, it’s vital. But if we want to scale it, we need more than goodwill. We need infrastructure, investment, and a change in mindset from the top down.

Legislation would help. Visibility would help. But the panel agreed we need to make the public care. We need to tell better stories. And as Nick said, we already have the ingredients. It’s time to bake the cake.

DTG and DTFilm each have their strengths, but the best part? You don’t have to choose between them. Epson’s SureColor F1000 and F2200 printers let you seamlessly switch between DTG and DTFilm, so you can take on a wider range of jobs and expand your product offerings without extra equipment or complicated setups.

Each winner receives a €200,000 grant and joins the year long GCA Changemaker Programme, delivered by H&M Foundation with strategic partners Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The programme supports winners with innovation coaching, systems thinking tools and leadership development to help bring their ideas closer to real-world impact.

As Kornit’s customer base has grown, so has the value of a formalized user group. With the establishment of Kornit Konnections three years ago, the event has grown year over year, attracting 250 attendees for its Miami event at the end of April.

Sustainability was woven into discussions throughout the event, since it is a key concern for the textiles industry, and one Kornit and other manufacturers of digital equipment and services are working to address. Digital textile printing, of course, addresses many of the environmental issues associated with analog technologies by reducing waste, water usage, pollution, energy usage and more associated with traditional analog means of fabric printing and dyeing. Cary Sherburne provide highlights from the event in this guest article..” WhatTheyThink