The future of apparel manufacturing is the On Demand Apparel Microfactory.
Where in the traditional garment printing the production was driven based on to be expected sales, nowadays this is gradually changing into production what already has been sold. The traditional production led to piles of unsold garments which meant a heavy burden on the environment, logistical challenges (producing and shipping goods which will not be sold) and maintaining warehouses. This results in high production costs and low profitability.
The new way of producing garments is: “on-demand production” in mircofactories. This is a complete game-changer. The customer sees the product first, buys, pays for it and then you make the garment; the garment is paid before a single piece is made. That means no minimum, no pre-investment, no inventory and no high overseas shipping costs. With this microfactory, you can produce your orders in quantities as small as one and produce what you sell instead of trying to sell what you produced.
What makes this microfactory so special?
- Microfactories save a great amount of resources like space, energy, materials and time.
- Microfactories have a small ecological footprint.
Microfactories use no waterduring the process and you could even use green fabrics, like we will show you on FESPA. - Microfactories are easily scalable: you can increase production as your business grows.
- Microfactories use the latest digital techniques, the design possibilities are endless.
- Microfactories can translate the latest designs from influencers into production immediately.
Now it is time to have a look into a microfactory where they make sportswear and fashion items.
At the upcoming FESPA GLOBAL PRINT EXPO, taking place from 12-15 October 2021 in Amsterdam, we work closely together with the following companies:
- Carolina Guzman - Fashion Design
- Greentex by Sutex - Textile
- Coldenhove - Sublimation Transfer Paper
- Mimaki – Printing
- Klieverik - Transfer printing
- Summa – Cutting
- Sheltersuit – refugee shelter suits
Fashion Design
We will show you the designs of Carolina Guzman. Carolina's designs can be described as feminine and stylish. The role that the fabric plays in the garment is vital. Design and fabric must go hand in hand because all this is going to be the result of the brand's personality, an exclusive and spectacular design is useless if the fabric is going to have poor quality in itself or poor quality in printing; because this would ruin the garment completely. On the other hand; design and fabric can complete each other and take it to a higher level.
So it has to have quality characteristics of the fabric, print quality, what do we feel to the touch? If it is a comfortable fabric, if it is a fabric that will go according to the design we are making, it is not the same to have a rigid fabric to have a stretch fabric, they will not look the same in the same design.
Let us remember that the first things the client sees is the design of the fabric, as they will or will not feel identified with the colors; instantly you will also be able to notice the details of the design of the print and its colors.
Carolina will be attending FESPA and we will be showing her designs on the booths belonging to the Microfactory.
Textile
Textile is important for the look and feel of fashion. We will show you eco friendly textile from Greentex by Sutex. Greentex by Sutex believes in creating a world where fashion, textiles, and design can coexist with nature. They use eco-friendly and ethical business practices to create their products. Greentex wants to build a sustainable future and decrease the impact that the textile industry has made on the environment. Their commitment is to develop, source and manufacture the most sustainable and differentiated fabrics for printing.
Greentex by Sutex is specialized in fashion, swim / active, home & interior, and corporate fabrics, and are therefore a perfect contributor to the Microfactory.
Sublimation Transfer Paper
Founded in 1661, Coldenhove serves customers globally, and is known for its innovative paper solutions which include the invention of the dye sublimation paper category. With their continuous focus on the development of new paper applications, Coldenhove remains a leader in the digital transfer paper industry.
By leveraging collective digital print expertise, Coldenhove is always up to date with the latest developments and the technical assistance/service for customers. Which include new business approaches such as Microfactories.
Coldenhove’ s contribution to that is to ensure that customers are provided with the right paper solution for their specific wishes.
For more information or further inquiries, Coldenhove’s worldwide team is ready to assist (future) customers in their success.
Stand 1-F71 | www.coldenhove.com
Printing
The design is printed as a mirrored image onto transfer paper using Mimaki sublimation printers.
Founded in 1975 in Japan, Mimaki is a leading manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers and cutting plotters. With a long heritage in textile printing, the company sports an enviable line-up of printing solutions and has consistently remained at the forefront of the developing digital textile print industry.
Digital textile printing provides a win-win solution for the environment and producers alike. It requires less resources, water, and energy than conventional textile printing processes, even at a higher printing quality. Furthermore, it creates less waste and eliminates the discharge of contaminated effluent resulting from offset or flexographic platemaking processes. Digital production also shortens time-to-market, while on-demand printing lowers the risk of product oversupply.
Stand 1-F45 | www.mimakieurope.com
Dye sublimation transfer printing
In the Klieverik calender, the image on the printed paper will be transferred to the polyester textile. At the FESPA Klieverik will show you the transfer printing on the VERTEX which is their NEW entry level hybrid transfer printing calender. VERTEX is an affordable, compact hybrid calender. With this machine, Klieverik aims at the lower market segment. Smaller companies, start-ups and companies with a diverse range of activities. For this reason, the VERTEX is made versatile. It is a single piece transfer calender with roll-to-roll capacity.
Klieverik calenders are the best match to use in a microfactory, because they have the best oil heated drum which ensures you to have a consistent temperature, which is essential for the sublimation at all stages of the process. Together with even pressure of the belt, this gives the best transfer printing results.
Klieverik has been an established producer of high-quality calenders for over four decades. The newly announced machine is the first of its kind from the Dutch company. Klieverik has previously prioritized the manufacture of high end, larger format industrial models, such as GTC and Single Piece Flowline calenders.
Stand 5-M30 | www.klieverik.com
Cutting
After printing and calendering all parts of the design, Summa’s L1810 Vision laser cutter will laser cut the materials with highest precision and perfectly sealed edges. The L1810 laser cutter is particularly suitable in a high-production environment, demanding fast processing of printed, sensitive textiles in order to achieve more throughput in less time.
Summa is a market-leading manufacturer of innovative digital cutting equipment that helps clients to cut their applications to the highest standards. For more than 3 decades, Summa delivers top-notch vinyl and contour cutters, flatbeds and laser cutters without compromise. Companies from all over the world use Summa’s cutting solutions for products in the signage, display, apparel and packaging industries.
Stand 5-M29 | www.summa.com
Use of remaining fabrics
To make the process even more environmentally friendly, we agreed with Sheltersuit to donate the remaining fabrics to them.
The Sheltersuit is a wind- and waterproof coat that can be transformed into a sleeping bag. It is a product designed for people in need that, for whatever reason, have to survive the harsh conditions that come with living on the streets. The Sheltersuit is free of charge to homeless people and refugees, as our mission is purely to help them. Since starting in 2014 we have been able to keep over 6,000 people living on the streets or in refugee camps warm with a Sheltersuit.
Sheltersuit believes that every human being deserves warmth, protection and dignity. That is why we at Sheltersuit are working hard to help the people in need by producing and handing out as many sheltersuits as possible. Furthermore, to help those who are distanced to the labor market, Sheltersuit has offered them to show and develop their talents in the Sheltersuit atelier, all whilst trying to keep the product waste to a minimum. Helping people in need, closing the gap to the labor market and reducing waste are the three pillars that the Sheltersuit Foundation revolves around.
