Epson's Textile Academy empowers future print designers

Last week (November 26^th), Epson hosted its second Textile Academy event at the company’s Textile Innovation Centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.

The print press manufacturer welcomed Textile Design BA students from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Loughborough University, hosting a range of workshops designed to enhance student’s textile printing skills.

Following on from Epson’s inaugural Textile Academy earlier this year, the event also aimed to teach the students about corporate and entrepreneurial business acumen, marketing and self-branding, and encourage environmental awareness within the textile industry.

Educators on the day included business and sustainability experts from Epson, and textile print wholesaler, Prinfab.

Guest speaker AJ Weir, designer for print and textile ready-to-wear (RTW) at Burberry, also shared his career experience in textile design and the journey toward sustainable, circular production.

Weir provided guidance on career pathways in the industry, inspiring students to explore how digital textile printing can open opportunities for creativity, innovation, and sustainability.

Speaking during the event, Weir said: “Bridging the gap between students and industry is fundamental not just to career opportunities, but to economic development, which is why I was so pleased to be invited by Epson to its Textile Academy.

“It’s been fun to see the versatility of print today and to tell students how rewarding and enriching print can be as a career choice. As sustainability grows in importance in every industry and walk of life, it is inspiring to see young people wanting to contribute with thoughtful, responsible print design.”

Sessions during the day included a ‘no-sew’ dress workshop, which was inspired by a viral dress social media trend.

Students were tasked with printing, cutting, and modelling their own designs into simple dresses using dye-sublimation printing, with Weir selecting the best designer and rewarding them with an Epson A4 dye-sublimation printer.

The award was presented to Roisin Allen, Fashion Design and Technology student at Loughborough University.

Students were also invited to explore how direct-to-film (DTF) printing can be used to upcycle garments and commercialise sustainable production.

Ashley Hancox, Textiles student at Loughborough University, commented: “The day has been very informative and eye-opening.

“We have explored a variety of print processes and learnt more about the sustainability challenges within the textiles industry. We are usually only exposed to dye sublimation printing, so it’s been great to learn how direct-to-garment (DTG) and DTF printing techniques can be utilised.”

Summarising the day, Duncan Ferguson, managing director at Epson UK and vice president for commercial and industrial at Epson Europe, said: “The Textile Academy is about more than technology – it’s about sparking curiosity, nurturing creativity, and showing students the real-world potential of digital textile printing.

“Seeing them engage with the technology, experiment with design, and learn how sustainability and innovation go hand-in-hand is exactly why we created the academy. It’s incredibly rewarding to help shape the next generation of designers and innovators."

In lieu of recent challenges in the industry, Ferguson recently commented on the UK government’s Autumn Budget on behalf of Epson, calling on the government to deliver more robust policies to promote industrial competitiveness and a net-zero economy.

Ferguson says: “Strengthening the UK’s industrial competitiveness requires more than short-term stimulus; it calls for long-term incentives that reward businesses investing in cleaner, smarter, and more efficient technologies and supply chains.

“We would have appreciated the introduction of a tax relief or enhanced capital allowances for companies that adopt low-carbon manufacturing and energy-efficient systems in today’s budget. By doing so, the chancellor could have accelerated the transition to a net-zero economy, strengthened UK industrial competitiveness, and boosted investment confidence.”

Applying this to the textile industry, Ferguson adds: “This approach would be particularly impactful for the UK’s textiles sector, where reshoring and nearshoring are vital to building resilience and reducing environmental impact.

“Supporting manufacturers who invest in digital and sustainable production methods would enable a new generation of local, agile businesses to thrive, cutting waste, reducing transport emissions, and revitalising regional economies.”