GRADUATES 2023 - MEET TEXTILE DESIGNER SARAH MILLS
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.
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.
Oswestry – Shropshire-July 2026 – China Print Supplies UK Ltd has turned its focus this week to a standout solution for businesses looking to personalise drinkware and merchandise: the SinoColor URP-3015 UV Rotary Printer.
The machine is designed to produce full-colour, 360° graphics across a wide range of cylindrical products, making it a compelling option for businesses serving the events, festivals, and promotional merchandise markets.
The SinoColor URP-3015 is built to handle an impressive variety of materials, including glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, and wood.
Leicestershire - July 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd has announced that Ricky Wiggins, founder of Monsters of Dirt Ltd and Ministry of Print, has selected the VelobladeNexus cutting system for his motorbike decal production operations.
The installation, completed this week and facilitated through specialist distributor Soyang Europe, marks another milestone for the VelobladeNexus as demand for the multi-award-winning system continues to grow across the print industry.
Brixen, 8 July 2026. Durst Group has acquired a majority stake in Triple C Labs GmbH, the company behind CoCoCo Platform.
CoCoCo Platform continues to operate as an independent entity under its existing brand, leadership and customer commitments, and remains fully open to third-party OEMs, software vendors and print production customers.
The transaction is a targeted reinforcement of Kyveris, Durst Group's industrial software and AI stack for connected print production.
Drytac, a leading manufacturer of self-adhesive print media, is pleased to announce that its innovative Polar Chrome print media has been named a winner in the Films category at the prestigious 2026 PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle Awards.
Recognized as one of the printing industry’s highest honors, the Pinnacle Awards celebrate the technologies and products that are redefining what is possible across the print industry.
Munich, Germany – July 2026 – The FESPA Global Print Expo will once again take place in Munich, Germany, from 6–9 April 2027 and Registration for exhibitor stands is now open.
Following a succession of highly successful events in the city in 2014, 2019, and 2023, FESPA is returning to a destination that has consistently delivered outstanding results for exhibitors and visitors alike.
Beijing – July 2026 – BARBIERI Electronics has announced the further strengthening of its sales partnership with Beijing Dingli Xintong Technology Co. Ltd. following a successful partner meeting in Beijing.
Led by Viktor Lazzeri on behalf of BARBIERI, the meeting reaffirmed both companies' shared commitment to advancing colour measurement technology across China's rapidly growing digital printing market.
The partnership reflects a response to the surging demand for high-quality spectrophotometers across a range of digital printing applications in China.
Birmingham, UK – July 2026 – swissQprint UK is set to exhibit at The Print Show 2026, taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC in Birmingham, Great Britain.
Visitors can find the swissQprint UK team at Stand P420, where they will have the opportunity to experience the company's latest flatbed printing technology firsthand.
Geretsried, Bavaria, July 2026 – RUDOLF, a leading innovator in textile chemical solutions, has highlighted RUCOGEN® PVN, a breakthrough product designed to address one of the most resource-intensive stages in textile processing: reactive dyeing after-washing.
The new solution offers manufacturers a cleaner, faster, and more sustainable approach to hydrolysate removal.
São Paulo, Brasil – July 13th, 2026 – Sun Chemical will demonstrate its innovative range of digital printing solutions on stand E175 at Future Print 2026, taking place from 14-17 July 2026 at the Distrito Anhembi | São Paulo, Brasil.
Sun Chemical will present new initiatives and upgraded portfolios for the graphics, sign & display, textile and industrial markets.
Arhus – Denmark – July 2026 – Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has announced that its FASTSEWN™ 3.3M has been named the recipient of the 2026 Pinnacle Award in the Technology category by PRINTING United Alliance.
The recognition highlights the machine's role in automating the final manual step in textile graphics production, combining automated sewing and laser cutting with keder application for silicone edge graphics (SEG).
Bracknell – Berkshire - July 2026 CMYUK has appointed Kate Channon to its UK sales team as Senior Digital Sales Consultant. She will report to CMYUK Sales Director, Chris Martin.
Kate joins CMYUK from Fujifilm, where she was Senior Business Development Manager, with a proven track record of selling high-value print systems.
She has worked in the wide format digital print industry since 2011, building a strong reputation for driving sustained revenue growth, opening up new markets, and consistently exceeding targets.
Watford – Hertfordshire - July 2026 – Epson UK today features the SureColor SC-G9000, its first high-production Direct-To-Film (DTF) printer built for businesses that demand greater output, higher reliability, and significantly less manual intervention.
The SC-G9000 is designed to challenge existing perceptions of DTF capabilities, combining industrial-scale productivity with an intuitive, largely automated user experience
Braintree – Essex – July 2026 - STAHLS', a leading provider of technology and solutions for the decorated apparel industry, has released its 2026 Print on Demand Industry Report, available now as a free download.
The comprehensive report draws on insights, strategies, and real-world experiences shared by industry leaders and innovators at the Print on Demand 2026 Conference, offering businesses a practical roadmap for scaling their print-on-demand operations
As Scoop returns to Olympia National from 19–21 July 2026, Founder and Creative Director Karen Radley introduces a new cohort of international designers making their debut at the show, each bringing a distinctive perspective on how fashion, accessories and lifestyle are evolving.
Leicester, UK – July 2026 – VeriVide Limited, a leading provider of colour assessment solutions, has announced that NEXT plc has successfully integrated DigiEye technology into its colour management workflow, delivering significant time and cost savings across its product teams.
NEXT's adoption of DigiEye, VeriVide's advanced digital colour imaging system, enables real-time colour approval, streamlining a process that has historically been time-intensive and costly.
London, UK – July 2026 – Perfect Colours, a leading supplier of premium interior products, has highlighted Neu Kaliss interior-focused non-woven wallpapers in its product range.
The move reflects Perfect Colours' continued commitment to offering high-performance, installer-friendly solutions that meet the evolving demands of the interior design industry.
Neu Kaliss wallpapers are engineered for professionals who refuse to compromise on quality.
Available in both uncoated natural and coated performance variants, the range combines sophisticated aesthetics with practical functionality — making them a strong choice for a wide range of interior applications
Aichi, Japan - July 9, 2026 — Coats Group plc, a world-leading Tier 2 supplier of critical components to the apparel and footwear industries, today signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation with Tajima Industries Ltd., a global pioneer in embroidery technology, to advance quality and innovation across the embroidery industry.
Central to the long-term partnership is Coats’ global network of Embroidery Service Centres (ESCs), which will serve as innovation hubs equipped with Tajima’s technology platforms for customer co-creation, technical testing and training.
Coats and Tajima will also introduce a joint offering combining high-performance Coats embroidery threads and technical advisory services with Tajima’s pioneering machinery and digital solutions.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 -- Duggal Visual Solutions, a leader in visual communications, and EFI, a leader in textile printing innovation, are proud to announce the first North American installation of the EFI Reggiani NEXT Plus 8-color configuration at Duggal’s New York production facilities.
This signals a significant leap forward in print technology, combining industrial-scale power with a sophisticated, eco-conscious architecture.
The investment in the Reggiani NEXT Plus reinforces Duggal’s ongoing commitment to quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
SSL Design & Fabrication Ltd, a leading sheet metal manufacturing and design specialist, has this week selected the Veloblade Nexus as its latest equipment investment, in partnership with large format media supplier Soyang Europe.
The installation marks one of two Veloblade Nexus deployments completed by Soyang Europe this week, underscoring the growing demand for the technology across the fabrication and manufacturing industry.
A primary driver behind SSL Design & Fabrication's decision was the advanced CNC capabilities integrated into the Veloblade range.
9th July 2026 - CMYUK is set to make a major impact at The Print Show 2026, as it will occupy the largest stand in the UK trade show’s history.
Now in its tenth anniversary year, the exhibition runs from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC, Birmingham.
The Print Show has become the UK print industry’s key annual event, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, printers, sign-makers, and industry professionals to see new innovations, network, and access expert advice.
It runs alongside The Sign Show, a co-location event showcasing the latest and best in sign making.
Essen – Germany – July 2026 Epson has been named Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2026, recognising the company’s design approach across its product portfolio.
The award will be marked at the Red Dot Award ceremony in Essen, Germany, on 7 July, followed by an exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum that will run until 16 August and feature a selection of Epson products, including Red Dot award-winning designs.
The award places Epson’s design work on one of the industry’s most visible stages, highlighting how the company combines product performance, functionality and design.
Telford, UK – July 2026 – China Print Supplies UK Ltd (CPS), a leading provider of specialist printing equipment, has successfully installed the Dlican DLI-360UV-02 printer for Promo Trade Print, delivering a solution that the client says has fundamentally transformed its business operations.
The installation marks another example of CPS's commitment to providing tailored, expert-led guidance to customers navigating significant purchasing decisions in the print industry.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, CPS Managing Director Scott Clutton worked closely with Promo Trade Print to understand its specific operational challenges and commercial opportunities before recommending the most suitable equipment.
Gent Belgium – July 2026 – Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems, a global leader in precision cutting technology, marks five years as a standalone company, reflecting on significant growth across its key segments: packaging, signage, and display.
Since its separation, Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems has remained steadfast in its commitment to developing technology that addresses the real-world needs of its customers.
The company has focused on delivering faster, more automated production systems, designed to support operators, relieve pressure on business owners, and enable teams to expand into new areas of work.
FESPA Middle East has announced that its 2027 edition will take place from 27–29 April 2027 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), marking a significant new chapter for the region’s leading exhibition dedicated to speciality print, signage, visual communication and textile decoration.
The announcement follows extensive consultation with industry stakeholders across the Middle East and North Africa, with the timing reflecting an understanding of current market conditions and the wider regional business landscape, to provide the specialist print and visual communications community with the opportunity to reunite, reconnect with suppliers, distributors and buyers, and explore the technologies, ideas and strategies shaping the future of the industry.
At Google Cloud AI Live Milano 2026, Mimaki’s direct-to-film (DTF) technology helped transform AI-generated designs into personalised T-shirts printed on demand
Artificial intelligence is changing the way ideas are created and digital print is changing how quickly those ideas can become real.
At Google Cloud AI Live Milano 2026, held at CityOval Milano, the two came together in a live personalisation experience powered by AI and enabled by Mimaki’s DTF technology.
For more than two decades, Ibrahim Fibres and Trützschler have grown side by side, driven by a shared ambition to continuously improve spinning performance, strengthen technology leadership and set new benchmarks in the textile industry.
Today, Ibrahim Fibres is a leading yarn and polyester staple fiber manufacturer in Pakistan.
The company operates the largest number of Trützschler cards in the country, with more than 200 machines running across its mills in Faisalabad, and plays an important role in one of Asia’s largest textile industries.
As part of its ongoing drive toward future oriented manufacturing, the company has now taken the next step by successfully integrating the latest generation of Trützschler carding technology: the TC 30Si, specifically designed for man‑made fiber applications.
Lambrate – Italia – July 8th 2026 – Viscom, the leading trade fair for visual communication, has officially opened pre-registration for its 2026 edition, scheduled to take place on 28th and 29th October at the Allianz MiCo Milano.
Industry professionals and creatives are encouraged to secure their place at one of Europe's most anticipated events in the visual communications sector.
Pre-registration is open to all attendees, with several pathways available depending on how visitors choose to register.
New York – NY – July 2026 - Optitex Pattern Design Software (PDS) was developed around the daily realities of professional pattern makers, not around a generalized vision of what design software should look like.
The architecture of the platform reflects a specific understanding of how experienced practitioners actually work and what currently interrupts that work.
Pattern makers working in Optitex PDS can build, modify, and evaluate garments within one connected environment.
Parsippany NJ – July 2026 – Sun Chemical has announced a significant step forward in supply chain transparency, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and traceable natural mica sourcing.
The company's fully backward integrated supply chain ensures that all natural mica-based effect pigments are sourced, processed, manufactured, and sold directly by Sun Chemical — from mine to market.
At the heart of this initiative is Sun Chemical's Hartwell, Georgia mine, which is regulated and audited by the US Mining Safety Health Association (MSHA).
Brixen/Munich, July 6, 2026 – Durst Group and TUM Venture Labs, a joint initiative of the Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM, are launching a multi-year collaboration in the field of robotics, AI and automation for industrial production.
As a Platinum Partner, Durst becomes part of the TUM Venture Labs ecosystem and the first Italian partner in this network.