DTG & DTF Printing Drive Growth in Textile Industry

Direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) digital textile printing technologies are experiencing significant growth, as highlighted in a 21-page report titled “Digital printing direct to fabrics and garments: developments and growth prospects” by Textiles Intelligence.

Digital textile printing enables limitless colour choices, customization, and design flexibility. These capabilities have improved rapidly due to advancements in automation, ink chemistry, and printhead technology.

Modern digital printers are highly versatile, capable of printing on various fabrics without the need for pre- or post-treatment, or even specialized operators. This results in resource savings, cost efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.

Key digital printer manufacturers include Brother, ColorJet, EFI Reggiani, Epson, Kornit Digital, Mimaki, and Sawgrass.

DTG and DTF are revolutionizing textile production. DTG uses inkjet technology to directly print full-colour designs on garments, while DTF applies durable prints using polyester film.

These new technologies are ideal for fast fashion and e-commerce, which demand rapid product updates and on-demand production. Their ability to streamline workflows and cut lead times caters well to these markets.

DTF printing, especially, has seen explosive adoption. An estimated 7 billion items were made using DTF in 2024, now accounting for 50% of all global T-shirt decorations. Much of this growth is attributed to large-scale investments in China.

Shein, the ultra-fast fashion retailer based in Singapore, has pioneered DTF advancements by developing in-house processes: Digital Thermal Transfer Printing and Cool Transfer Denim Printing. The latter prints wash effects on denim with 70% less water than traditional methods, marking a lower environmental footprint.