This is the digital era. Everything from supply chain to apparel printing has experienced digitization. Thus, it is not a surprise that textile printing is now riding the wave of digitization.
Digital textile printing technology is evolving at a rapid pace and is potentially changing the face of the fashion industry. The use of digital technologies in textile industry is not new but it has gained widespread usage. Moreover, it has unlocked new opportunities and doors to sustainability and perfection.
According to Allied Market Research, the global digital textile printing marketis expected to reach $7.9 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2021 to 2030. Rise in demand for 3D printing technologies, change in fashion trends, and developments in printing methods drive the market growth.
What is digital textile printing?
Digital textile printing is a novel method of printing colorants on textiles using inkjet-based method. It is highly flexible and has unlimited potential in design and pattering of textiles. Moreover, it helps achieve sustainability goals of the apparel company as it is drastically different from the traditional textile printing and has no harmful environmental impacts.
Dye-sublimation printing method is utilized to print digitally on the fabrics. This method uses heat transfer to dye onto the textile. Pre-heating of the fabric is mandatory in this method as it ensures the hold of inkwell on the fabric and allows different colors to be attained.
Advantages of digital textile printing:
Digital textile printing offers numerous benefits compared to traditional printing methods. However, some of the major benefits are:
- Low fixed cost: Digital textile printing demands low fixed cost as there is no need for color separation and screen engraving.
- Fast sampling and short time of delivery: With the use of digital textile printing, designs are made digitally and thus, can be adjusted on the sport. Moreover, each adjustment is not only convenient but it does not require any physical changes to rotary screen like in conventional screen printing. This improves the lead time and enables for short time delivery.
- Low sample costs: Digital textile printing is effective for smaller orders as it is not required to product and test screen for every pattern.
- Less waste: As digital textile printing involves precision and every droplet of ink are printed accurately onto the fabric, there is little scope of ink waste. Moreover, this entire process is eco-friendlier than the conventional textile printing.
- High resolution and fine patterns: Digital printers are not limited by number of color or combinations of color and pattern. It offers utmost flexibility and printing of small, detailed patterns.
- Saves energy and water: The traditional textile printing costed a lot due to excess use of ink and water. However, in digital textile printing, there is no need to wash rotary screens to apply new colors. This saves energy as well as amounts of water for cleaning.
The prime advantage of digital textile printing over the traditional printing technology is in its process color applications using latest printers and software applications. Tonal graphics and photographic have helped come up with millions of colors that can be printed on fabric according to the requirement of the customer. Moreover, wide color scope and fine print quality is achieved through digital textile printing software.
Digital Textile Printing: what awaits in the future?
The entire textile printing business is based on the fashion trends, which change every season. The frequent changes in fashion increases the textile wastage. However, over the last few years, the big fashion giants have taken a big step toward sustainability and using sustainable wear. This trend has reflected in textile printing.
The trend of sustainable clothing is consumer-centric and comes from the rise in awareness regarding impact of cosmopolitans on the environment. The rise in harmful effects of pollutants during textile printing have increased concerns regarding the traditional methods of textile printing. Thus, customers are now focused toward using digital textile printing.
Not only it creates a sustainable textile printing ecosystem but it improves textile design and reduces the use of harmful dyes. As digital textile printing uses heat transfer or power dyes, the overall printing process causes less damage to the environment.
In the future, more and more market players would turn toward digital textile printing as it requires less capital investment. If compared to traditional printing and dyeing methods, installing digital textile printing facility demands small space and resources. Moreover, one can save money on creating inventoryand focus on producing the designs and apparels that customers want. In short, digital textile printing offers a chance for businesses to become completely customer-centric.
Even for setting a new business, one needs to set up an online platform and learn how to use textile design software and create virtual product designs. Once the orders start to flow in, one can move toward mass product and skip the hassle of maintaining inventory.
With the rise in awareness of the people toward pollution created by the fashion and textile industry, the future is certainly toward making sustainable products. Thus, it is a high time that market players start investing in digital textile printing. While production cost is a bit higher than the conventional products, the tag of sustainability helps gain premium price and lure more and more major brands in the business.
