Epson Renews Its Partnership With FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026
TOKYO, Japan, May , 2026 -Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, "Epson") has announced the continuation of its partnership with the FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026 ("FFP"), a program organized by YUIMA NAKAZATO LABORATORY Co., Ltd. that seeks to discover and support next-generation fashion designers.
The program is endorsed by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. Beginning in 2022, this partnership is now in its fifth year.
Under its long-term corporate vision "ENGINEERED FUTURE 2035," Epson aims to drive technological advances, engineer the optimal future, and deliver value to society.
Since 2021, Epson has continuously provided technical support for the creation of collections presented at Paris Haute Couture Week by YUIMA NAKAZATO, the fashion brand led by Yuima Nakazato, the initiator of FFP.
Through this co-creation, Epson has advanced its inkjet technology and leveraged digital textile printing to expand freedom of expression while reducing environmental impact and exploring new possibilities in sustainable fashion.
As part of the FFP, Epson plans to provide lectures and organize tours of its Solution Centers, offering participants opportunities to deepen their understanding of its printing technology and gain hands-on experience.
Providing technical support for FFP 2025 finalists at Epson's Fujimi Plant
Epson will continue to deliver real-world value through its business activities as well as through diverse co-creation and support initiatives that contribute to the future of industry and society.
About the FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM
The Fashion Forward Programe is designed to discover and support fashion designers who can bring to life clothing designs that combine social responsibility and creativity.
It is composed of three elements: awards, education, and incubation.
Finalists earn the chance to learn from experts and mentors across diverse fields and are provided with technical support and opportunities to present their work.
FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026 Schedule
Application period: April 20 - May 31, 2026
Primary selection: Late July 2026
Secondary selection: Mid-September 2026
Incubation period: August - November 2026 (only for those who were selected)
Final selection and awards ceremony (winner announcement): December 2026
About Seiko Epson Corporation
Epson is a global technology leaderwhose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world.
The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle.
Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.
About Epson Europe bv
At Epson Europe we constantly strive to create innovative products that are reliable, recyclable and energy efficient because at Epson, we know that planning for the future requires a strong commitment to the environment.
All of Epson’s European activities are geared towards achieving the goals set out in our Environmental Vision 2050 plan, and we are always happy to hear constructive ideas on how we can deliver those commitments and more.
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.
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Raleigh – NC – Aigust 2026 - North Carolina State University has been chosen to lead a 10-year Department of War initiative aimed at modernizing textile manufacturing in the United States to support the defense industry.
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Mexico City, Mexico – August 2026 – HP Graphic Arts has announced its participation in FESPA Mexico 2026, taking place from 10–12 September at Centro Banamex, Mexico City.
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Soyang Europe has strengthened its hardware team with the appointments of Andy Webb as Commercial Director and Ian Windebank as Wide-Format Print Specialist.
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Milano, Italy – August 2026 – Viscom Italia, the leading international trade fair for visual communication and the sign industry, has announced that Hyper Personalisation 2.0 will be a defining theme at its upcoming 2026 edition.
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Dorking UK – August 2026 – The FESPA Foundation has announced a landmark initiative to unite the global print community under a shared commitment to education, sustainability, and meaningful social impact.
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Gaziantep, Turkey – August 2026 – Zimmer Austria, in partnership with ERA, is continuing its installation of a Colaris machine at Plato Halı, one of Turkey's leading carpet manufacturers.
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Following its successful market launch at the beginning of the year, Felix Schoeller has now received the 2026 Pinnacle Award for RubyPaper in the “Technology” category.
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This year, a total of 154 entries from 54 companies were submitted for the Pinnacle Award.
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North Bergen – NJ – August 2026 – Roland DG Europe has announced that Coach USA's Perfect Body successfully produced 25 FIFA World Cup bus wraps using the TrueVis XP-640 wide-format printer, running operations up to 16 hours a day during one of the company's most demanding production seasons to date