Print Trends for 2023 Spring /Summer

According to statistics, over 94% of all printed fabrics worldwide are produced through screen printing technology. According to the industry intelligence service, Smithers's digital textile printing market will increase twice in size in 2026 compared to 2021. More and more companies are now experimenting with digital printing, not only because it can save up to 95% of industrial water and reduce energy use by 75%, but also because it can offer potential sales and profit protection.  

There are two main types of digital printing technologies：

• Digital inkjet printing that is applied directly to the fabric:

Direct-to-fabric, also known as roll-to-roll, is when a design is digitally printed on a roll of fabric, which is then cut and sewn onto a garment.

Usage: Primarily used for full-body printing, mainly for a variety of items, including dresses, shirts, pants, and sportswear. With the ability to strategically place pattern blocks, it is ideal for engineered prints to reduce fabric and ink waste.

Limitations: Some inkjet printers require pre-processing and post-processing, so look for a supplier that offers a single-step machine where each stage is automated and done simultaneously to save time.

One drawback is that white is usually not available for digital printing. So one of the solutions is to start with a white background or light-based fabrics.

• Direct-to-garment digital inkjet printing:

In this process, the item is sewn before printing, then stretched and fed through an inkjet printer. The design is printed directly onto the garment. Once dry, the item is ready for sale.

Usage: Since there is usually a limited print area, this process is suitable for t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and bags with graphics and placement prints. Unlike roll-to-roll, direct-to-garment inkjet printers are capable of printing white ink and can use a dark background.

 Limitations: Most digital inkjet printers are not recommended for fabrics with more than 20% polyester. Not all digital printers have the same capability and if pre or post-treatment is required that would add further in to cost, time, and environmental impacts.

In terms of processing, digital printing is a smaller device compared to traditional screen printing. A digital printer takes up 20 times less space than screen printing, and the technology allows for connectivity from anywhere, resulting in more local production through the network, reducing turnaround time, shipping costs, and carbon emissions.

In terms of design, digital printing allows for the creation of more complex, detailed designs that can use multiple colors, avoiding the high expense of traditional screen printing that charges by color.

Environmentally speaking, digital printing offers significant energy savings and reduced carbon emissions and produces no wastewater effluent.

However, it is worth noting that digital printing production has a higher cost per piece for on-demand digital printing compared to the traditional printing supply chain. A cost-benefit analysis should calculate the benefits by reducing the level of price reductions, and reducing excess inventory and transportation costs to calculate the actual profit impact. Mass brands and retailers can choose to pilot and plan an infrastructure network that builds on the broader supply chain capacity to support 10-20% of print production on a broader supply chain basis.