Double launch for Epson at new Innovation Centre

Epson, a provider of textile, photography, and wide-format print solutions, has officially launched its first ever Textile Academy at its new Innovation Centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.

The new Innovation Centre has been created after Epson outgrew its previous centre at Hemel Hempstead. The new space allows the company to showcase its various print, textile, photography, and industrial solutions to customers and various visitors such as the students who attended from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) on February 13th.

Epson says the Textile Academy has been created as a platform for young people to “contribute to a better, more eco-friendly textile industry”.

The inaugural event acted as a one-day workshop for final year and MA textile design students to experience the many opportunities and considerations within textile print.

The day included insight and presentations from Duncan Ferguson, managing director of Epson UK and European vice president for large-format print, as well as Phil McMullin, head of sales for commercial and industrial printing at Epson UK.

Both Ferguson and McMullin introduced students and members of the press to Epson and its goals as a company.

Also representing Epson was Taranpreet Rai, sustainability manager at Epson UK, who focused on the company’s environmental goals and accomplishments. A project that Epson has worked on which was of particular relevance to the students attending was Epson’s collaboration with fashion designer, Yuima Nakazato.

Epson and Nakazato have collaborated for a number of years, including at Paris Haute Fashion Week in 2023, where the YUIMA NAKAZATO brand showcased Epson’s dry fibre technology which was used to create garments using discarded textiles from around the world.

Speaking at the Textile Academy workshop, Rai said: “The fashion sector receives a large spotlight in terms of its environmental footprint and today was a great chance to educate students on what this looks like.

"Epson has recently conducted research quantifying the water waste attributed to UK and European wardrobes through imported, analogue-printed garments, and it’s great to highlight the reduced impact of on-demand, digital textile printing.”

Speaking about the day as a whole, Ferguson added: “Educating and inspiring students about the opportunities offered by digital textile printing is not only key to future-proofing our industry, but also to reducing the water waste and CO2e of the fashion industry. Marrying their creativity with our technology is an exciting prospect and it’s an absolute pleasure to see students take such an interest in textile printing as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”

During the event students got to use direct-to-garment (DTG), direct-to-film (DTFilm) and dye sublimation, all with designs they had worked on and submitted ahead of the event.

Katy Harvey, one of the students at NTU, won a SureColor F100 dye-sublimation printer after being awarded best design for creativity, colour, and impact. The winner was chosen by the media attending the event, including Debbie McKeegan, chief executive officer at Texintel.

“Today I learned about the different options for starting my own business or building my career through a company,” said Harvey, adding: “It was also really great to see how my designs could work across such a wide range of items. Winning the competition for best design was really flattering, and I look forward to trying out my new printer at home.”

The day also included information and knowledge from a business workshop from professionals such as Oliver Mustoe-Playfair, co-founder of fabric print company, Prinfab.

Additionally students got insight into the fashion industry thanks to April Holyome, head of product at 16Arlington, who shared her experiences working in textile design, particularly textile print at brands like Burberry, Cath Kidson, and PANGAIA.

“Today was a great chance to connect with students that are about to embark on their professional journey,” said Holyome. “I was so pleased that I could share my own experiences to help other students make the most out of their textile design degrees in the fashion world.”

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