Epson and the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) sign an official partnership cementing Epson as the AFC's exclusive Digital Print and Projection Partner.
The entities have also commissioned a study to explore the current state and future potential of manufacturing for Victoria's clothing and textiles industry to help build a business case for increased investment to boost jobs and the economy.
Both organisations also look forward to exploring new sustainability initiatives for the fashion industry, including applications for the latest digital textile printing technology.
Craig Heckenberg, MD of Epson Australia, says: "Epson prides itself on being an innovative technology leader and a champion of sustainable practices."
"Our commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability are in perfect alignment with the AFC's values, which is why this partnership is good news for the Australian fashion and textiles industry."
The partnership with Epson supports the AFC in delivering its goals to help build future onshore manufacturing capability, develop future skills and career pathways and transition the industry to a sustainable, circular economy by 2030.
Leila Naja Hibri, CEO of AFC, says: "The AFC seeks collaborative values-aligned partnerships to help us in our mission to guide the just transformation of Australian's fashion and textile industry to a thriving circular economy by 2030."
"Epson's strong commitment and proven capabilities at unlocking innovative technology that advances sustainable practice makes them a perfect partner for the AFC and our industry."
"Their digital textile printing and projection technology, which has been proven to be transformational in other global markets, has the potential to provide significant learnings and benefits to the Australian industry," says the CEO.
The company believes its Monna Lisa direct-to-fabric textile printer series has real potential for the Australian industry, combining performance and usability to meet the need for flexibility and sustainability.
Craig Heckenberg continues: "The new Monna Lisa direct-to-fabric textile printer series is a real game changer as traditional printing techniques such as screen-printing use high volumes of water and harsh chemicals that, if not processed and treated properly, can end up in waterways."
"Monna Lisa printers give organisations ability to do short runs within made to order purchasing workflows. Both excellent ways to reduce over ordering and over consumption in our industry."
Epson also recently partnered with Japanese fashion designer Yuima Nakazato and his eponymous Yuima Nakazato brand to unveil sustainable creations. Both Espon and Yuima Nakazato are excited to raise awareness of the water and material waste associated with excess production.
Their collaboration illustrated how switching to digital textile printing using more environmentally friendly pigment inks offers a more sustainable and less wasteful means of textile printing.
French fashion brand Petit Bateau also changed its business strategy and opted for a Monna Lisa digital production solution.
Petit Bateau prints 2.5 million linear metres of fabric annually using various textile printers. Petit Bateau has shifted to on-demand manufacturing, which Epson says enables the brand to improve its profitability and environmental footprint while controlling the entire value chain.
Leila Naja Hibri says: "As the Australian fashion and textile industry begins its transition to a circular economy, Epson's innovative fabric printing technology will be a great enabler to smaller batch and on-demand manufacturing."
"Due to growing demand for ethically manufactured fashion as well as global trends and regulations requiring the same, new approaches like these are critical to the success of our industry's national clothing product stewardship scheme, Seamless, which aims to change the way Australians design, consume and recycle clothing."
Craig Heckenberg concludes: "Epson offers proven technology and solutions designed and developed specifically for local, onshore manufacturing and textile printing."
"Epson is also fully committed to collaborative partnerships that embrace sustainability across the Australian fashion and textile industry, and this new partnership with the AFC is an excellent example of that commitment in practice," says Heckenberg.