FESPA has announced the launch of Print Make Wear, a new, interactive visitor feature designed to replicate a fast fashion factory. Print Make Wear will be free to attend for registered visitors to FESPA Global Print Expo 2018, which takes place at Messe Berlin, Germany, from 15-18 May 2018.

The feature, focused exclusively on fashion textiles, garments and printed accessories, takes the form of a live production environment highlighting every step in the screen and digital printing production process, from initial design to finished product. It will bring together collaborators from all areas of the printed fashion sector, including fashion brand owners, designers, garment printers and producers, to explore the latest production possibilities, exchange experiences and share knowledge in the interests of a more sustainable fashion value chain.

Demonstrating an integrated, end-to-end production environment, the Print Make Wear fast fashion factory will feature a screen-printing carousel, washing and drying equipment, digital direct-to-garment printing, cutting and sewing, and solutions for welding and embellishment. The following technology and materials brands are already confirmed participants in the feature: Premier Textiles, Magna Colours, Brother, Juki and Vastex. In addition, design and technology experts from the contributing exhibitors will be on hand.

Highlights

A live fashion catwalk will add the Wear element, enabling visitors to see garments and accessories produced in the Print Make Wear factory. The items to be produced in Print Make Wear are being designed by Sandra Zomer from the Netherlands, a FESPA Young Star Award winner, who now works for renowned fashion designer Julien MacDonald.

Daily seminar sessions will also take place within Print Make Wear, giving leading fashion designers, brand owners and producers a platform to present the latest trends, technologies and case studies. The seminars will cover topics including: Colour separation and image output; Screen making; Ink terminology; Speciality ink; Fabric challenges; and Advanced machine printing.

“Trend data from Smithers Pira shows that the printed textile market today equates to around 30 billion square metres and that, in 2016, printed textile for clothing accounted for half of the total textile industry by volume. Recognising the growth in digital textile printing in recent years, FESPA has been consistently expanding its textile proposition for visitors. Print Make Wear builds on this commitment, focusing specifically on the growth opportunity within so-called fast fashion,” commented Neil Felton, FESPA CEO.

Expanding coverage of textile printing

Since 2008, FESPA has invested to expand coverage of textile printing across its event portfolio, making textile the fastest growing segment represented within FESPA Global Print Expo. Ten years later, at FESPA 2018, there will be two halls dedicated to textile printing, enabling visitors to explore a multitude of textile-related production and workflow technologies, materials and inks.

“The fashion and sportswear industry is transitioning rapidly from old-world, supply-led production cycles dependent on traditional analogue techniques, to a demand-centric digitally-enabled production landscape,” said Duncan MacOwan, Head of Events at FESPA.

“For FESPA 2018 visitors with aspirations in textile, the addition of this unique live Print Make Wear production environment, supported by the interactive product showcase and expert knowledge-sharing sessions, will elevate awareness of the latest technical developments and highlight the product innovations they enable.”

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