Roz McGuinness, Divisional Director, FESPA, answers the most frequent questions she has received from t-shirt printers, garment decorators, fashion labels and sports brands´all in search of innovations to gain a creative competitive edge over their competitors´as they prepare to attend FESPA Fabric 2015.
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Can you tell us more about FESPA Fabric 2015? What will it offer visitors?
Roz McGuinness (RM): FESPA Fabric is one of the four events under one roof in Cologne in May, including FESPA 2015 where visitors can learn more about screen and digital printing techniques, European Sign Expo for non-printed, traditional signage as well as Printeriors, a printed interior décor visual showcase.
FESPA Fabric will offer visitors a dedicated environment for garment decoration and textile printing. This year´s theme encourages visitors to ´Launch into a Universe of Garment Decoration´. As part of the ´galaxy of different planets´ that will be showcased at FESPA 2015, the pink fabric planet will encourage garment printers and decorators to explore new techniques and equipment that can improve their business offering.
Visitors to FESPA Fabric will have the opportunity to engage with international garment print and decorating manufacturers and suppliers, and get hands-on technical advice and training in garment design and production.And, as this years´ Fabric event is 44 per cent larger than FESPA Fabric 2013 in London, it means there is more than ever before for visitors to see.
Tell us more about the educational element of FESPA Fabric 2015.
RM: The two key educational elements at FESPA Fabric are Charlie´s Corner and its dedicated conference programme.
Building on the past success of Charlie´s Corner, Charlie Taublieb will this year be joined by other figures from the garment community to blend theory with valuable hands-on practical workshops, where visitors will have the opportunity to design and print their own t-shirts. The tutorials will gradually get more technical throughout the week, so visitors can experiment with the technology while also benefitting from expert advice.
This year Charlie alongside Fabric Corporate Sponsor, Kornit Digital, will explore opportunities by combining screen and digital processes. They will highlight how Kornit´s Breeze machine with its pulse microsystem software, can work with traditional screen processes to explore further possibilities in garment decoration.
FESPA Fabric will also host a dedicated conference programme, with seminar topics ranging from ´Direct to garment printing ´ understanding the possible problems you can encounter,´ ´Profit trends within textile customisation,´ ´How to become a garment printer´ and ´Image preparation for textile printing.´ The seminars will all take place in the main FESPA Education Hub in hall 8, and will give those looking to enter the world of textile printing or improve their current textile offering vital insight and advice on the whole spectrum of garment decoration, techniques and innovation.
What are the main industry issues and trends that FESPA Fabric will address?
RM: Printed apparel and promotional items are proving a lucrative business venture for many printers, so any PSP looking to diversify should ensure they visit FESPA Fabric 2015.
Another noticeable trend in textile is the move beyond garments into decorative applications. Interim results from FESPA´s Print Census show that business owners estimate that 24 per cent of their work relates to fabric and textile printing for décor, highlighting this as a key emerging segment for textile print. So, textile printers interested in textile for interior decoration should also drop by our new Printeriors showcase, which offer