(Image courtesy of Texintel)
Guest Article By Heather Kendle, Product Management, Epson Europe BV
As it stands, the processes and materials at work in the fashion industry are fast approaching their expiration date. Producing a single pair of non-organic cotton jeans is estimated to require upwards of 8,000 liters of water. Currently, 2,700 liters of water are used to create one shirt, which is four times as big as an average hot tub.
But what if there was a more sustainable way to make clothes?
To end these wasteful processes, Epson once again partnered with celebrated Japanese designer Yuima Nakazato at Paris Fashion Week in July 2023, to show that stylish fashion can be created via sustainable means.
Finding Solutions In The Fabric
Some of the material used to create Nakazato’s latest fashion line was derived from discarded garment waste, which the designer collected from the many “clothes mountains” while on a visit to Kenya. During this trip, Nakazato travelled through drought-stricken areas that emphasized what a precious resource water truly is.
With around 150 kg of abandoned material in tow, Epson applied its dry re-fiberization process to the waste material. Over 150 meters of non-woven fabric wwere produced and then printed with Epson’s Monna Lisa digital printing technology using pigment inks.
Although in its early stages, dry fiber technology produces highly functional material by defibrating, binding and forming fibrous textiles without using water. In principle, rather than recycling textile waste to use again in its original form, this new process takes waste and creates new materials.
When applied to the fashion industry, dry fiber technology offers the possibility of producing material for new clothing using low-quality fabric to do so. While the use of upcycled textiles in garment creation is still in its experimental stage, Epson and Nakazato intend to raise awareness about the water and material waste associated with traditional and excessive garment production through their partnership.
Putting a More Sustainable Foot Forward
While embracing the dry fiber process, Nakazato used pigment ink from Epson’s direct-to-fabric digital textile printing technology. In fact, 18 of the 29 Nakazato designs that hit the runway at Paris Fashion Week were created using Monna Lisa technology.
The Monna Lisa pigment inks provide a far simpler printing process than traditional analog techniques. Unlike analog methods, the process requires no plate or screen production, washing or storage, resulting in significantly reduced water and ink waste.
Taking full advantage of the Monna Lisa’s technology, Epson and Nakazato were able to fine-tune and print the designs up until a week before the event. As a result, Nakazato printed the desired looks exactly, sparing the creation of excess items.
Epson’s Solution Centre in Fujimi, Nagano Prefecture, offered technical support to Nakazato, advising on the best fabric, ink, conditioning, and post-printing processes for the textiles being used.
With the wider fashion industry in mind, the Monna Lisa digital printing technology presents a vital and much more sustainable step in the right direction. It offers a future in which water use can be significantly minimized, whilst designers retain their creativity and freedom to bring their ideas to life.
Re-Designing the Future of Fashion Through Collaboration
With consumers gravitating towards brands that offer stylish clothing produced through sustainable means, the fashion industry has no choice but to rethink its current processes. In fact, reports say 82% of consumers want brands to embrace sustainable practices.
In its third year, the collaboration between Epson and Yuima Nakazato has demonstrated the transformative power of technology in fostering sustainable clothing collections.
By combining dry fiber technology and pigment ink digital printing, this partnership has introduced a new approach to textile production, significantly reducing waste in the fashion industry.
Epson and Nakazato share a common goal: to promote a sustainable future by eliminating wasteful water and textile processes in fashion production. Through their joint efforts, they aim to revolutionize the industry and pave the way for more environmentally responsible practices.
