(Image courtesy of Texintel)
Written by the Texintel Editorial Team
At Heimtextil, we interviewed five key experts from within the textile supply chain to explore the impact of technology and its disruptive effect for interior décor manufacturing across this complex supply chain.
It’s clear that on-demand printing is emerging as a game-changer in home décor, enabling manufacturers to start production with minimum order quantities as low as a single piece. Materials innovation is also a focus, with sustainable practices and the use of recycled materials becoming a standard. Powerful partnerships and digital tools are simplifying production processes, for both textiles and wallpaper manufacturing.
However, despite these technological advancements, the human element persists in creative design, recognizing the importance of a product’s integrity alongside its aesthetic appeal.
Revolutionizing Interior Décor with Print-On-Demand
Venturing into the realm of home furnishing and interior décor, Print Logistic, an on-demand textile smart hub based in Poland, showcased its solutions at Heimtextil and commented, “The fast-paced evolution of the textile market prompted our strategic investment in home décor, a sector where the demand for on-demand services is skyrocketing.”
Print Logistic now offers designers and major partners the opportunity to manufacture home décor products like bedlinens, cushions, curtains, and blankets via their on-demand model. Michal Tracz explained, “One of the surprise elements to our partners is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)—it starts from a single piece. This is a game-changer; it stimulates new ideas and new roads to market for the industry.”
“The fashion industry has been a forerunner in on-demand production but is yet to tap into its full potential,” he continued. “We believe the interior décor space is nearing a pivotal shift from stock models to on-demand models, signaling a host of opportunities for our customers. Beyond providing on-demand services, we extend end-to-end fulfilment services, handling orders, print, sewn manufacture, quality control, and dispatch to consumers across Europe. Our mission is to make the transition seamless and effortless for our customers. In essence, they just need to provide the design and start selling—we handle the rest. This new service offering is not a replacement, but an addition to the existing business models of our partners.
“At Print Logistic, we are committed to leading the future of smart manufacturing, providing instant access to new market sectors, and eliminating the need for extensive R&D or production know-how. The future is bright, and we're here to illuminate the path.”
Innovative Materials and Print Services
Fiona Napier from Edmund Bell revealed the company’s latest innovative materials and the expanded services they now offer to address the needs of the shifting décor market. Edmund Bell highlighted theirnew decorative blackout fabrics which reflect their commitment to sustainability and the supply of affordable technical textiles. Their innovative substrates cater to the market's increased interest in sustainability and low price points, which are critical in driving progress in difficult markets.
Edmund Bell also emphasizes the importance of large-scale textile production and the role of major players in pushing sustainability forward. The company believes that recycled materials will soon be a standard requirement across the market, considering the ongoing shift towards sustainable practices across all industries.
As a supplier of both fabrics and printed textiles, the company has made strides in democratizing design for customers through efforts such as the Print Lab, where a significant investment in digital textile printing technology has boosted the flexibility of their design collections to offer customized prints on demand using their substrates. Additionally, the Fabric Hub, a secondary portal for archive designs, offers an easily accessible resource for interior designers. This digital advancement not only allows for prints on demand but also makes final fabric available for various projects irrespective of their volume - setting a new benchmark for commercial personalization within the industry.
Innovations in Design and Printed Manufacturing
In the ever-evolving landscape of design and manufacturing, AVA CAD CAM is continuously adapting and innovating to meet the current market needs. Key shifts within the industry include the push for more efficient and automated workflows, alongside a significant focus on sustainability. Solutions from AVA assist designers and manufacturers in realizing these expectations.
Their software offers tools that enable the industry to reduce wastage and streamline processes by automating repetitive tasks. It also helps in reducing the need for color proofs and minimizing shipping, thereby contributing to eco-friendly practices.
An important highlight of the software is the ability to work within specific print specifications during the design process. Working within pre-set parameters allows designers to create a production ready digital twin of final printed output, ensuring optimal results when the design is printed.
Contrary to industry concerns, AVA does not believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) threatens creative designers. Instead, AI is viewed as a tool that assists in automating laborious and repetitive aspects of design, freeing up designers to invest more time in creative tasks. This reflects an industry trend of maintaining human touchpoints in design while embracing digitization's benefits. As such, AVA continues to invest in technologies that honor the “perfect imperfections” of traditional artistry while leveraging digital advances.
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Innovative Future Technologies Enhance Wallcovering Production
Highlighting the future of wallpaper production, Fotoba and Canon technologies collaborated at Heimtextil to showcase an innovative smart manufacturing system that significantly simplifies the production process for wallcoverings. The micro-factory featured Canon’s latest digital print technology in line with Fotoba’s precise cutting technology to demonstrate how printed base materials must be monitored and controlled for printed output without dimensional disruption. By controlling print temperature, tension and stretch, wallcoverings can be precision cut and rolled in high-volumes, using unattended automated technology—reducing manufacturing time significantly.
The powerful partnership combines Canon's printing technology with Fotoba’s precision cutting, resulting in a pixel-perfect application suitable for wallpaper production. The system is capable of printing from a jumbo roll, producing up to 3,000 meters of wallpaper without an operator.
At the core of their innovation is the mission to democratize the industry. Their automated machinery enhances the efficiency of the entire production chain, from design to manufacturing. This enables scalability and boosts speed, ultimately bringing a competitive edge in the fast-paced wallcovering market. This exemplary partnership is a strong testament to how collaborative innovation can fuel industrial growth.
Embracing Craftmanship in the Age of AI
At Heimtextil, Haley Studio reflected on their experience in the design industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of identifying global market trends.
Interestingly, one observed trend was a resurgence of interest in arts and crafts—possibly a reflection of the growing shift towards plant-based lifestyles. This was identified as a consistent market preference from all clients across multiple markets—textiles and wallcoverings.
In acknowledging the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the design industry. Haley Studios suggested that while AI might replicate the mechanics of design, it lacks the sophistication to capture the depth of human experience and the intricate backstory that accompanies each creation and its ongoing commercial success.
Richard Haley explained, “The future of design lies not only in the product’s aesthetic appeal but also in its narrative authenticity. Therefore, the ability to provide authority, integrity, and the backstory of the design becomes increasingly important in standing out within the marketplace.”
This reinforces the enduring importance of human intuition, insight, and experience—skills that enable a designer to predict popular trends and gauge potential market winners. Despite the rush of technological transformations, the fundamentals of design continue to be deeply rooted in the human ability to tell compelling stories through craft and color.
Key Takeaways:
- On-demand print services are revolutionizing the home décor sector, offering designers the ability to manufacture products with minimum order quantities from a single piece.
- Sustainable practices and recycled materials are becoming standard requirements across all industries.
- Digitization continues to streamline design processes and manufacturing, with software tools enabling reduced wastage and more efficient workflows.
- Collaborative innovations are democratizing wallpaper production, with automated machinery enhancing efficiency and speed in the production chain.
- Despite advancements in artificial intelligence, the human element remains crucial in design, with the narrative and backstory of a creation often being a key factor in its commercial success.
