TEXINTEL TALKS - EPISODE 032 - RAPHA - DESIGNING FOR PERFORMANCE SPORTSWEAR AND DIGITISATION

PODCAST
Written By Debbie Mckeegan
TEXINTEL PODCAST - RAPHA.jpg

Founded by Simon Mottram in London in 2004, Rapha makes the world’s finest cycling clothing.

For 15 years, their products have redefined comfort, performance, and style for cyclists from absolute beginners through to World Tour professionals.

Today we are joined by John Roberts - Head of Product and Carl Moriarty - Design Director, to discuss their success and their passion for sportswear performance…apparel, technology, print…and of course cycling!!

“The product team constantly strive to reduce the environmental impact of their apparel, focussing on the footprint of the raw materials, whilst also making a huge effort to refine the reliability and the quality of recycled materials which are essential for circular design” - RAPHA

TEXINTEL TALKS - EPISODE 032 - RAPHA - DESIGNING FOR PERFORMANCE SPORTSWEAR AND DIGITISATION
DEBBIE MC
Download
READ THE BLOG
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Digital Textile Printing is Changing Fast: Here's what Epson's Duncan Ferguson had to say at FESPA 2026
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Digital Textile Printing is Changing Fast: Here's what Epson's Duncan Ferguson had to say at FESPA 2026

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.“

Sportswear held relatively firm throughout the downturn, and customised apparel is now showing renewed momentum. Duncan noted a significant rise in interest around direct-to-film (DTF) technology - while direct-to-fabric printing is also regaining traction.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Discover how Waterless Digital Textile Printers like the EFI Reggiani ecoNEXT Plus are Driving Sustainable Agile Manufacturing in Home Decor
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Discover how Waterless Digital Textile Printers like the EFI Reggiani ecoNEXT Plus are Driving Sustainable Agile Manufacturing in Home Decor

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.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: The Digital Switch: Textile Technologies Reshaping an Industry at Fespa 2026
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: The Digital Switch: Textile Technologies Reshaping an Industry at Fespa 2026

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.

DESIGNER CASESTUDY: Marylène Madou: Crafting a Sustainable Future with Digital Print
DESIGNER CASESTUDY: Marylène Madou: Crafting a Sustainable Future with Digital Print

“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.”

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: The Digital Product Passport (DPP) What Every Textile Printing Business Needs to Know
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: The Digital Product Passport (DPP) What Every Textile Printing Business Needs to Know

What Is the Digital Product Passport?

At its core, a Digital Product Passport is a digital record attached to a physical product - typically accessed via a QR code, NFC chip, or barcode – that documents everything about that product across its entire lifecycle.

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.

CASE STUDY: How Marimekko Turned Bold Prints Into a Global Blueprint - from the banks of the Seine to the markets of Asia-Pacific
CASE STUDY: How Marimekko Turned Bold Prints Into a Global Blueprint - from the banks of the Seine to the markets of Asia-Pacific

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?

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Techtextil and Texprocess 2026: Navigating Market Shifts Through Speed, Connectivity, and Sustainable Innovation
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Techtextil and Texprocess 2026: Navigating Market Shifts Through Speed, Connectivity, and Sustainable Innovation

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.

CASE STUDY: Friedmans: Mastering Bespoke Textile Printing for a Global Market with Forward Thinking Innovation
CASE STUDY: Friedmans: Mastering Bespoke Textile Printing for a Global Market with Forward Thinking Innovation

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”

INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Powering the Global Print on Demand Community with Pixel Perfect Precision and Purpose
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Powering the Global Print on Demand Community with Pixel Perfect Precision and Purpose

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”

EXPERT INTERVIEW: Innovating Sustainability Through Innovation and Waste Transformation with Chris Dearing of COATS
EXPERT INTERVIEW: Innovating Sustainability Through Innovation and Waste Transformation with Chris Dearing of COATS

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”

Debbie Mckeegan
Previous

TEXINTEL TALKS - EPISODE 033 - JENNY HOLLOWAY - FASHION ENTER - THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE SEWN UK MANUFACTURING
Next

TEXINTEL TALKS - EPISODE 031 - FASHINNOVATION WITH JORDANA GUIMARAES - WORLDWIDE TALKS 2020