Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Articles by Debbie McKeegan

Debbie McKeegan is the CEO of TexIntel. As a multi-disciplinary creative and renowned digital print pioneer, she holds over 25 years’ experience within the Textile manufacturing industry. An award winning Textile designer, and lifetime manufacturer of printed products for Fashion and Interiors, she has a unique insight that combines creativity with a deep knowledge of traditional manufacturing process and the essential application of disruptive digital technologies.

TexIntel is an Expert Resource that provides independent, authoritative, realtime advice to some of the most innovative creatives and emerging companies in the Home Decor, Fashion, Manufacturing, Digital Print, and Textile Technology Industries. https://www.texintel.com

Displaying 1-29 of 29 articles

How Hybrid Digital Textile Print Technology Is Unlocking the Textiles Value Chain

Published July 30, 2020

As machine manufacturers increasingly add hybrid functions to textile solutions, production costs go down while throughput goes up; in fact, the EFI Reggiani BOLT can produce more than 5,400 linear meters per hour and can include two analog stations for embellishments such as metallics. These speeds and the accompanying functionality rival traditional analog solutions and have a hugely smaller environmental footprint. Learn more.

The Fashion Industry Faces a Step-Change Post-COVID, Say McKinsey and Kornit Digital

Published July 23, 2020

What will the fashion industry look like post-COVID? It is broken in so many ways, and has been for some time, with the disruption of the pandemic laying bare the weaknesses and the fragility of the global supply chain. Check out this summary of the discussion at the Kornit Digital Live Talks event, titled “Business Unusual,” featuring Achim Berg, Global Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company.

What Is the Impact of Data on Creative Fashion?

Published July 16, 2020

Based on a conversation with experienced buyer Steve Brown and Kornit’s Omer Kulka, textiles expert Debbie McKeegan digs into the impact of data on creative fashion. As the industry’s most valuable currency, data, when used correctly, has the power to transform the industry and paves the way to greater transparency within the supply chain.

Does It Take a Pandemic to Change the Fashion Industry—Will COVID Be the Catalyst for Change?

Published July 9, 2020

Textiles expert Debbie McKeegan asks why it takes a pandemic to change the fashion industry, which has long been recognized as the world’s second largest polluter. Perhaps change is on the way, with manufacturers forced to re-examine fragile supply chains. Still, a lot will depend on changing consumer demands!

World Environment Day—Precious Resources and Textile Manufacturing

Published June 25, 2020

Earlier this month was World Environment Day, founded by the United Nations in 1974. It’s a good time to step back and re-examine how the textile industry, the world’s second largest polluter, can make changes to become more sustainable. Textiles expert Debbie McKeegan notes that sustainability can’t be a luxury item; it has to be an essential element.

Emerging Textile Trends and What to Expect from the New Normal Post-COVID-19

Published June 18, 2020

What can we expect in the textiles and apparel industry post-COVID-19 and what might the new normal look like? Will there be more room for micro-brands? Will consumers shift focus to more sustainable solutions? Textile expert Debbie McKeegan addresses these and other questions.

Five Sustainable Furnishing Fabrics and Where to Buy Them—Choose Eco-Friendly Textiles

Published June 11, 2020

There is growing demand for customized home décor as well as sustainable fabric solutions. Textile expert Debbie McKeegan explores five sustainable furnishing fabrics and why it is important to choose eco-friendly textiles.

What’s The Real Impact of COVID-19 On the 2020 University Graduates?

Published June 4, 2020

The British Fashion Council and the CFDA both call for the industry to slow down, adopt sustainable practice and reject over consumption. It’s a big ask, and many in the industry want this change, the reality may be that “fast fashion” has created a consumer neurosis within retail and that will take some undoing. Read the full article

Industry Expert Q&A with Thimo Schwenzfeier, Show Director of Neonyt, on the Future of Fashion and Sustainability

Published May 28, 2020

Debbie McKeegan has a conversation with Thimo Schwenzfeier, the Show Director of Neonyt and Director of Marketing Communications for Messe Frankfurt, about sustainability in the fashion industry, and how demand for sustainable fashion will only accelerate post-COVID.

Q&A: Designers of the Future Meet Laura Cloughton of Huddersfield University

Published May 21, 2020

Hear from a university student about why she chose a career path in interiors, what drove her university choice, and what some of her biggest challenges have been as she develops new designs and collections.

Why Antimicrobial Fabric Treatments Will Be a Big Part of Our Textile Future—Latest Developments

Published May 7, 2020

In a changed world, will we see more functional fabrics that include such things as antiviral and antibacterial capabilities? Fashion and textile expert Debbie McKeegan thinks so. She discusses the future of smart textiles in the context of PPE, wearables, and protective clothing for fashion, sportswear, interiors, and hospitality.

If There Was Ever a Signpost to the Future, This Was the Event of the Year—Fashinnovation Worldwide Talks

Published April 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for the Fashion Industry to seize the moment and radically reset an aged, inappropriate business model. Textile expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan shares insight from the Fashinnovation worldwide talks, conducted virtually via Zoom on April 20 and 22, 2020.

Premier Digital Textiles Are Proud to Announce Their Environmentally Certified Textile Collection

Published April 23, 2020

Textile mills continue to work toward delivering more eco-friendly fabrics to the market. A case in point is Premier Digital Textiles, which has expanded its environmentally certified textiles collection, a collection with the provenance that the consumer now demands.

Why Pigment Inks Drive the Digital Direct-to-Garment Global Print Markets

Published April 9, 2020

Global demand for T-shirts continues to grow with direct-to-garment printing being the top technology choice for decorating them with an annual double-digit growth rate projected. Learn why pigment inks are key to maintaining—and even accelerating—this growth rate.

Supply Chain Disruption in a Pandemic and the Benefits of a Digital Workflow

Published April 2, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant shortcomings in today’s supply chain structure. As companies look to reconfigure their supply base, do they also nee to think about radically restructuring manufacturing processes? This thoughtful piece from textiles industry expert Debbie McKeegan addresses that issue.

Printfullness: A Digital State of Mind and Machine Spawning the Next Industrial Revolution

Published March 26, 2020

We have a new word for you: “printfullness”! A digital state of mind and machine that is spawning the next industrial revolution. It’s a growth of design, process, production and demand. Learn more!

Designer Spotlight with Jie Ren: A New Generation of Sustainable Textile and Fashion Design

Published March 19, 2020

Designers are quickly becoming aware of the new opportunities offered by digital technologies for the fashion and home décor industries. In this article, we focus in on Jie Ren and his Fashion Collections, reflecting a new era of fashion manufacturing.

Five Digital Textile Ink Sets and Print Processes Explained

Published March 5, 2020

There have been many advances in ink sets for digital textile printing over the last several years. Are you up to date with the latest information? This article will give you insight into five ink types available, how they work, and which fabric types they are suited for.

Creatives Push Digital Textile Print to The Max

Published February 20, 2020

The push and pull between creatives and production professionals occurs in just about every industry, including textiles. Creatives want bold designs that enhance their portfolios and bring beauty to the world. Production folks just want something that they can produce! Helping bridge that gap is the topic of today’s article by WhatTheyThink contributor and textiles expert Debbie McKeegan.

Digital Textile Printing Unlocks the Supply Chain to Offer Speed Plus Sustainability

Published February 6, 2020

As the world’s second largest polluter, the textiles and apparel industry has placed a huge focus on improving supply chain management to reduce its environmental footprint. WhatTheyThink contributor and textiles expert Debbie McKeegan talks about how digital textile printing can be a key to this effort, unlocking the supply chain while offering speed and sustainability.

The Perfect Print: Understanding Resolution and Color

Published January 23, 2020

Any time textile professionals gather, color management is always a topic of discussion. It becomes even more complex when introducing digital fabric printing into the mix. WhatTheyThink contributor and textiles expert Debbie McKeegan shares insights on achieving the perfect print.

Digital Pigment Gains Ground on Analog Production

Published January 9, 2020

In the printed textiles market, pigment inks are a hot topic due to their ability to print brilliant colors on a wide variety of fabrics, often without pre-treatment. WhatTheyThink contributor and textiles expert Debbie McKeegan explains why.

Reinventing the Craft Industry Utilizing Digital Textile Printing

Published December 19, 2019

The Maker movement continues to grow around the globe. In this post, WhatTheyThink contributor and textiles expert Debbie McKeegan outlines how digital technologies are spurring even further growth and opportunity in the UK market. These trends are relevant to North America as well, enabling creative individuals, designers, and artisans to build their own unique businesses and together generate a vibrant craft Industry in ever increasing numbers.

The Role of Spandex in Digitally Printed Athleisure and Performance Sportswear

Published December 5, 2019

Spandex, Lycra, elastane: Whatever would we do without these stretchy, comfortable fabrics. And digital textile printing adds even more flexibility to what can be done with them. Textiles guru Debbie McKeegan explains.

Reinventing Interiors—A Digital Transformation

Published November 21, 2019

Digital textile printing is being used for more than apparel. Interior design is a hot market as well! Textiles guru and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan explores the effect of digital printing on an industry with many similarities to that of fashion: the interiors sector, including wall coverings.

The Future of Digital Textile Printing Is Bright: Read the Stats

Published November 7, 2019

As ink and machine prices tumble, with print speeds and quality increasing at an astonishing rate, there’s a huge opportunity for the digital print community to take advantage of new business opportunities, according to textiles guru and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan. Read the stats!

New Business Models for the Eco-Conscious Consumer

Published October 24, 2019

Textiles guru and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan shares her thoughts about fashion on subscription—a new business model for the eco-conscious consumer. Today’s new shopping generation of digital nomads is quite comfortable ordering fashion online, and they idea of renting fashion holds a lot of appeal. Learn more.

Ten Years at the Top for the Queen of Digital Print

Published October 10, 2019

Fashion Designer Mary Katrantzou embraced digital textile printing in 2008 and has already become known as the Queen of Digital Print. Textiles guru and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan shares the story of her meteoric rise.

What if We Could Switch to Recycled Polyester by 2030?

Published September 26, 2019

Join us in welcoming textiles guru Debbie McKeegan as a WhatTheyThink contributor! In this article, she weighs in on a hot topic in apparel—can we re-fashion fashion to use recycled polyester by 2030, and should we? She provides good insight into what polyester is and how it can be efficiently recycled—even polyester blends!