On-demand direct to fabric printing could be the biggest chance for fashion’s much-maligned industry.
McKinsey estimates that 71% of fashion manufacturers intend to set up nearshore operations. On-demand production models help ensure that these ambitious goals can be achieved.
The key to unlocking creativity and answering consumers’ demands for sustainability and more precise (and more cost-effective) answers is digital print technology.
While analog production is likely to continue for simple, large orders with low quantities, the demand for these orders is decreasing, it’s unlikely that digital will be discontinued. Producers who need flexibility in their operations, diversification to answer changing market dynamics and challenges, and profitability from any order increasingly realise digital isn’t simply a nice have, it’s a must have.
People expect to find exactly what they’re looking for, buy at the touch of a screen, and have it in a day or two.
This is why digital textile printing can be the best way to respond quickly and without introducing unnecessary complications. The digital on-demand capability allows for inventory to be avoided by reducing 30% of the production.
Produces can produce more, more varied products and uses with a smaller amount of resources. It is about supplying according to demand and not producing inventory. Also, it means planning in real time and then adjusting as needed.
What is Kornit?
Kornit Digital is the only digital pigment-based direct-to fabric system that includes inline fixation, curing and inline fixing. This allows for a single-step operation to produce durable impressions, ready-to ship impressions, on any number of fabrics.
Customers often praise the system for allowing them to quickly and cheaply fulfill their designs. This is a great alternative to using dye-sublimation to polyester in order to satisfy the needs of a B2C operation.
Used in conjunction with Kornit’s proprietary NeoPigment Robusto ink set, Kornit production systems are Oeko-Tex Eco Passport certified, GOTS approved, and Bluesign certified to meet the highest sustainability standards, while the softener solution ensures a soft hand-feel to meet the needs of even the most discerning fashion designers, as demonstrated by an eclectic group of designers participating in our series of Kornit Fashion Week events, which saw creators bring both fashion and home décor collections from design to reality in mere weeks using this on-demand production technology.
As outlined in Kornit’s 2021 Impact Report, a life cycle assessment of Kornit Presto S demonstrated the system uses up to 95% less water and 94% less energy relative to contemporary screenprinting solutions, while producing up to 83% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Producors can quickly create samples and never have to produce extra inventory by using Kornit. This allows Kornit users the opportunity to set up profitable nearshore and onshore businesses, even in high-cost cities like Los Angeles, New York and London.
This is ideal for a consolidated “micro factory” model that incorporates the complete end-to-end production of finished goods under one roof, while inline pretreatment of materials helps mitigate reliance on sourcing pretreated materials, and in some cases enables custom printing of unique materials provided by the designers, brands, or end-consumers themselves.
Blur, a Portuguese company, offers complete production services for fashion brands. This includes printing, embroidering and pattern development, prototype manufacturing and full production. The company also offers dropshipping or direct-to consumer services. It makes it possible to provide high-quality fulfillment for an expanding customer base.
Blur realized that dye sublimation was not only able to produce durable, brilliant impressions in polyester sportswear and home textiles but also offered a growing demand for natural materials. This drove them to add Kornit’s direct-to-fabric (imprinting rolls of material, to be cut and sewn for various applications or as custom-designed fabric sold as it) digital print capability, enabling a broad range of product offerings for their customers—including the production of new samples within 30 minutes.
“Kornit is the most eco-friendly solution on the marketplace, since it uses 100% biodegradable inks,” says Blur Founder and CEO Mariano Dias. “Our printers now run 24 hours a day. Although we can make any quantity, from one-piece to huge quantities, our most common order size is 500 pieces. Kornit’s printers give us total flexibility, and the quality is just outstanding. Today, we have some clients who only want to print with Kornit technology because of that.”
“Total flexibility, and the quality is just outstanding”
Blur is based in Portugal and offers full production services for fashion labels, including printing and embroidery, pattern design and proto manufacturing, as well as full production. Blur also offers dropshipping and direct-to-consumer services. This makes high-quality fulfillment possible for a growing client base.
Blur recognized that, while dye sublimation provided durable and brilliant results for poly-blend and polyester sportswear, soft signage and home textiles, the market was growing for natural materials. This drove them to add Kornit’s direct-to-fabric (imprinting rolls of material, to be cut and sewn for various applications or as custom-designed fabric sold as it) digital print capability, enabling a broad range of product offerings for their customers—including the production of new samples within 30 minutes.
“Kornit is the most eco-friendly solution on the marketplace, since it uses 100% biodegradable inks,” says Blur Founder and CEO Mariano Dias. “Our printers now run 24 hours a day. Although we can make any quantity, from one-piece to huge quantities, our most common order size is 500 pieces. Kornit’s printers give us total flexibility, and the quality is just outstanding. Today, we have come clients who only want to print with Kornit technology because of that.”
Next-gen capabilities
Kornit’s state-of-the-art Presto MAX system changes the game as the first digital direct-to-fabric print system offering white-on-black impressions. This system can create 3D effects that mimic screen and vinyl.
Digital production is essential for a digitalized marketplace. Technologies such as screens and dye-sublimation have their place – but digital is a complementary solution that enables self-expression (unlimited designs, colours, etc.It creates new possibilities, optimizes production floor operations (eliminating wasteful overproduction and inefficiencies), and is better aligned with ecommerce to address the global explosion of creativity. The system handles complex jobs with a lower total cost. This is because it produces more jobs faster, requires less labour and offers consistent quality. By enabling on-demand local fulfillment, it solves supply chain problems. And it’s cleaner, which is increasingly important to everyone, but especially to younger generations who spend according to their values.
Kornit.com offers information on how to create new opportunities and grow your product lines, as well as building a sustainable business with digital transformational capabilities.