Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Strategic Planning Spurs Growth at AlphaGraphics Kansas City

Published June 3, 2026

When Haley Haar took over AlphaGraphics in Kansas City, the business generated about $600,000 annually. Today, she has led the company in a growth path approaching $2 million in annual revenues through careful strategic planning and a deep understanding of customer needs and requirements.

Tariffs and Textiles: Will They Help Bring Back U.S. textile Manufacturing?

Published June 1, 2026

So supposedly, a goal of U.S. tariffs on products imported from other countries, including textiles, apparel, and footwear, was to incentivize bringing manufacturing back to the States. Of course, setting up a new factory takes time and money; it doesn’t happen overnight. But it seems that producers had other ideas…the results may surprise you.

Textile Turmoil: What’s the Latest in the World of Textiles?

Published May 18, 2026

Nothing better demonstrates the turmoil the textiles and apparel industry is going through than two news items I received in my inbox, basically back to back, stating that the U.S. is holding its own while Europe is losing steam. What else is going on in the industry today? We dive into that here.

Monadnock Introduces Recyclable Alternative to Vinyl for Retail Signage

Published May 5, 2026

For its entire 207-year history, Monadnock Paper Mills has taken sustainability to heart. As a privately-owned paper mill, the owners live near the mill and take protection of the environment seriously. Most recently, the company has introduced a new, sustainable alternative to vinyl for retail signage, Ultra Hide PC 100 Blockout Poster. In part two of this two-part video, Julie Brannen explains.

PrintFactory Acquisition by Kornit Digital Boosts Business Opportunities for Both

Published April 30, 2026

In April, Kornit Digital announced the acquisition of PrintFactory. In this Business Update Video, Director Global Strategic Partners Simon Landau provides background on PrintFactory, which has been in the market since 1989, and explains the value to PrintFactory, Kornit, and their dealers and customers of this addition to the Kornit portfolio.

Monadnock Paper Mills: A Heritage of Sustainability

Published April 28, 2026

In part one of a two-part video, Cary Sherburne talks with Julie Brannen, Director of Sales and Sustainable Solutions, Monadnock Paper Mills, about the Monadnock story. Celebrating its 207th anniversary this year, the company got its start after the War of 1812, printing currency. From the outset, the mill, located on the Contoocook River in Bennington, New Hampshire, used renewable resources to power the mill, a practice that continues through to today.

Is Second-Hand Becoming First-Choice?

Published April 27, 2026

A recent article in Apparel DECODED caught Cary Sherburne's attention. It notes that the second-hand apparel market is growing, and highlighted Vinted as an example. In this article, she takes a look at the market, recent changes, and projections for growth among key players.

World’s First China-EU Digital Product Passport for a Textile Product!

Published April 20, 2026

About a year ago, we provided an update on Digital Product Passports. While the news on this topic has been somewhat quiet, a recent article published by GlobalData caught my eye—the launch of the world’s first China-EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) for a textile product!

A Conversation About Graphene

Published April 6, 2026

The Graphene Council, now renamed as The Advanced Carbons Council, has been a key source of information about graphene, often called a miracle material. As graphene, which was discovered in 2004, has matured and is less of a niche material, this expansion of the group’s focus signified by its renaming creates a unique entity, as explained by its Executive Director, Terrance Barkan, in this interview.

Are There Hemp Jeans In Your Future?

Published March 23, 2026

The water footprint of a single pair of jeans is surprisingly high, primarily because of the "thirsty" nature of cotton and the intensive chemical washes required to get that classic denim look. Plus cotton growing requires a lot of pesticides and herbicides. Is hemp a possible cotton replacement? Fashion for Good believes so.

Gelato Releases State of Intelligent Print Production 2026

Published March 17, 2026

Gelato CEO Henrik Muller Hansen shared his thoughts on the importance of a unified software layer that can help print service providers gain a view across their entire operation that improves productivity and profitability. He discusses who the new consumers of personalized textile printing are—both individuals and businesses, and points out the growth opportunities in the apparel market.

Is Textile Recycling Coming to North America at Scale?

Published March 16, 2026

Focus on textile recycling has increased around the globe. More than 80% of clothing waste is discarded in landfills. Reju, a leader in textile recycling, is opening a plant in Rochester, N.Y. Is this the start of scaling up textile recycling in North America, which has lagged behind Europe and other parts of the world?

New Developments Are Encouraging for the Future of Wearables: Devices, Clothing, and More

Published March 2, 2026

We’ve been following the progress of wearables since beginning our formal coverage of textiles and apparel in 2018, and it is amazing the progress that is being made. This article highlights two examples that demonstrate that progress.

Infigo Experiences Excellent Growth in 2025

Published February 19, 2026

This UK-based provider of web-to-print services at the Enterprise level has onboarded 34 new clients since last May, 18 of which are in North America. In this interview, CEO Doug Gibson provides background on the company and explains its target market, market differentiation, and more.

Disposable to Durable: Is a Change in Fashion Industry Mindset Occurring? A Recent Fireside Chat Hosted by The Sourcing Journal Makes The Case For Why It Should

Published February 16, 2026

Can the fashion industry make the move from disposable to durable, reducing volumes but maintaining profitability? A recent Sourcing Journal fireside chat made the case that it is not only possible, but necessary.

Can Bonding Technologies Replace Thread in Apparel Manufacturing? CreateMe CEO Cam Myers Has Some Answers

Published February 2, 2026

Efforts to return apparel manufacturing back to the U.S. at scale has been stymied by the lack of sewing talent at scale. CreateMe’s Founder and CEO Cam Myers explains how bonding technology—using adhesives—can replace thread for some garment applications. This could be a game-changer for reshoring.

The Sewing Conundrum

Published January 19, 2026

As the apparel manufacturing industry left the United States in the 70s and 80s in search of cheaper labor, it left the sewing talent we had in search of new careers, or moving on to retirement. Now we are trying to reclaim that talent pool in order to bring at least some of that manufacturing back here. Michael McDonald, President of SPESA, shares his thoughts on this challenge from the perspective of the suppliers to the industry.

What DON’T You Know About Printing?

Published January 16, 2026

Those of us in the printing industry love what we do, enjoy our industry colleagues, and are proud of the printed materials we produce or use. But what DON’T you know about printing?

How CreateMe Is Revolutionizing Apparel Manufacturing

Published January 8, 2026

As we try to bring at least some apparel manufacturing back to the U.S., a key barrier is lack of sewing skills. While suppliers to the sewn products industry are working on automation and integration of AI, new players are also entering the field. One such player is CreateMe, and in this interview with Cary Sherburne, its founder, Cam Myers, explains how their Adhesive Technology can replace sewing for certain garment types. Watch for a more detailed article, coming soon.

Can Apparel Overproduction Be Controlled? ISAIC’s Jennifer Guarino Thinks So…

Published January 5, 2026

In what world does it make sense to send 30% of the products you produce directly to the landfill? I think most readers would agree that it doesn’t, but that’s exactly what’s happening in apparel—not only in the U.S., but around the globe. What’s the solution for the industry? Jennifer Guarino, President and CEO of the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC), has some strong opinions!

Overproduction in Apparel: The Solution Is In Our Control!

Published December 17, 2025

In this discussion, President and CEO of ISAIC, Jennifer Guarino, talks with Cary Sherburne about the problem of the current fashion business model which is rife with overproduction. Reducing overproduction is within the control of brands if only they have the courage to take the right steps—and in doing so, can actually improve profits and customer loyalty.

Patagonia Profile: Sustainability a Work In Progress

Published December 1, 2025

Patagonia published its first-ever sustainability report! Yes, the poster child for corporate sustainability has never published one before, and could be a playbook for others to follow. We’ll also discuss new developments that might bring true sustainability within reach for other corporations.

Toby Weiss, CEO of Fiery on Inèdit Acquisition

Published December 1, 2025

Toby Weiss, CEO of Fiery LLC, joined Senior Editor Cary Sherburne to provide an update on Fiery, including its presence at PRINTING United, as well as discussing the strategy behind the company's recent acquisition of Inèdit, the leading RIP solution for digital textile printing.

Leadership in the Age of Gen Z

Published November 20, 2025

It’s not about catering to a single generation, but rather building a future-proof workplace that values individual contributions, fosters growth, and promotes a positive and inclusive culture. But by understanding the unique drivers of Gen Z, your company can create an environment where all generations can thrive, collaborate, and contribute to collective success. Cary Sherburne explains.

Kornit Brings Digital Printing to Shoe Manufacturing

Published November 18, 2025

Cary Sherburne talks with Ilan Elad, President of Kornit Digital, about the company's digital printing of athletic shoes. He explains how the application was developed, the benefits for manufacturers, and the process for printing on shoes. He also provides an update on Konnections, the Kornit users group, both the recent virtual event and the upcoming in-person event next April 9th in Ft. Lauderdale.

Mushroom Magic

Published November 17, 2025

No, not that kind of magic! Rather, this article is about mushrooms as a magical replacement for traditional leather—more sustainable, and more flexible in terms of products and decoration. It’s been a while since we’ve written about this, and now for a significant update…

Local News Deserts Expand as Local Newspapers Dry Up

Published November 10, 2025

It’s no secret that times are tough in the world of media these days, but perhaps most challenged are printed newspapers, especially in smaller, more rural areas. The number of “news deserts”—a community, rural or urban, with limited or no access to credible local news and information—continues to grow as newspapers fail or are bought up and decimated. Here’s the latest scoop.

Will COP30 Be Another Cop-Out?

Published November 4, 2025

Will COP30 actually deliver commitments to actionable solutions to the climate crisis or just be another get-together that delivers nothing meaningful? That’s a good question. It seems that there’s a significant shift in strategy for this year’s conference, and it is not an encouraging one—the focus seems to be shifting from reducing dependence on fossil fuels to a strategy of adaptation.

TEXTILES & APPAREL TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—New Developments in Textile-to-Textile Recycling

Published October 20, 2025

Why is textile-to-textile recycling is getting so much attention of late? One big reason is that the more fiber we can recapture and reuse, the less virgin fiber is required to keep up with the demand for textile-based products. Cary Sherburne rounds up some of the latest efforts in textile recycling.

TEXTILES & APPAREL TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—The Digital Thread: Latest Digital Developments in Textiles and Apparel

Published October 20, 2025

The textile and apparel industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation, driven by advancements across design, printing, cut-and-sew processes, and integrated software solutions. Cary Sherburne surveys the lay of the land.

LABELS & PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—Sustainability In Packaging: Latest Trends

Published October 14, 2025

Cary Sherburne rounds up some of the latest trends and data regarding packaging sustainability—and consumers’ perceptions of and attitudes to sustainable packaging.

Unpacking the Recycling Process

Published October 6, 2025

Do you know what happens to the stuff you recycle? How much of it actually gets recycled, and how much ends up in landfills? A lot depends on your behavior, but also where you live. This includes packaging, textiles, plastics, and more. TOMRA has some answers.

Continued Tariff Uncertainty

Published September 29, 2025

Among other things, 2025 is set to become the most uncertain year in recent memory relative to tariffs—which countries are affected, what percent each is assigned, and whether the tariffs, as assessed by the current administration, are even legal. This article looks into how the textiles and apparel industry has been impacted.

RR Donnelley Introduces AI-Powered Business Communication Intelligence Platform

Published September 22, 2025

In this interview, RR Donnelley's Vice President of IT describes the company's new AI-Powered platform for business communications, enabling companies to analyze their customer communications an aggregate. This opens the door to more consistent and effective digital and physical business communications, enhancing the customer experience, maintaining compliance, and reducing overall costs.

Made in America: Can the Apparel Industry Make It Happen?

Published September 18, 2025

Is reshoring of apparel manufacturing feasible? Some cotton farmers would like to see clothing “Made In America,” but is it realistic? Cary Sherburne looks at some of the enablers—and some of the obstacles.

Word Games: Do You Know the Meaning of These New Entries to the Cambridge Dictionary?

Published September 15, 2025

For those of you who appreciate words as much as I do, here are the latest additions to the Cambridge Dictionary…especially if you are hiring GenZ folks—which you should be—you may hear these terms around the office or shop. Now you’ll know what they mean!

AI and the Copyright Conundrum

Published September 8, 2025

There’s no question that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are evolving rapidly. But not without issues—copyright, privacy, and recent “spicy” images generated by X’s Grok without being prompted. This article explains some of the challenges with the “training” that AI systems undergo to enable them to answer a broad range of queries.

How Tariffs Are Affecting Apparel Imports

Published August 25, 2025

Although there are some efforts to reshore apparel manufacturing to the U.S., it’s far from reaching a meaningful scale. Meanwhile, supply chains are in a bit of disarray with tariffs and the associated uncertainty. Imports from China are falling off a cliff. Will that benefit other countries like the Dominican Republic and Mexico? Seems so. But the jury is still out, and Asian countries are still the primary exporters of apparel to the U.S.

Professor Bryan Ormond Takes On New Role at Wilson College of Textiles (Part 2)

Published August 21, 2025

The Milliken Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) at NC State University's Wilson College of Textiles is the only US academic center focused on researching, testing, and evaluating the comfort and protective performance of textiles, garments, and related systems. Milliken & Company has invested $1.5 million in the center, which will be used to accelerate research and create graduate fellowships. Dr. Ormond explains what the center does and how it is looking at the future of PPE for a variety of industries, including fire fighting.

Living Ink Technologies Partners with Crocs to Replace Carbon Black Ink in Its Jibbitz Packaging

Published August 18, 2025

Algae Ink™ uses bio-based waste streams for a sustainable black ink alternative, Cary Sherburne talks with Devon Murrie, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Growth for Living Ink Technologies.

Professor Bryan Ormond Takes On New Role at Wilson College of Textiles

Published August 18, 2025

The Milliken Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) at NC State University's Wilson College of Textiles is the only US academic center focused on researching, testing, and evaluating the comfort and protective performance of textiles, garments, and related systems. Milliken & Company has invested $1.5 million in the center, which will be used to accelerate research and create graduate fellowships. In part 1 of this two-part interview, Dr. Ormond explains what the center does and how it is looking at the future of PPE for a variety of industries, including fire fighting.

Want to Better Understand AI and How You Can Use It? Here’s a Book for You

Published August 4, 2025

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately, you will have seen a ton of information out there on artificial intelligence (AI). Much of it you probably skim over—discussions about the financials of AI companies, bits and bytes about how it works, debates over its ultimate impact on humans, etc. But what about something that helps you understand how you can actually benefit from it now? In Co-Intelligence: Living and working with AI, author Ethan Mollick does just that. We found it extremely helpful and hope you will, too.

Serial Entrepreneur Edward Hertzman Discusses Latest Venture

Published July 31, 2025

In this wide-ranging interview, Cary Sherburne and Eddie Hertzman discuss his new venture in the health/fitness/wellness industry, the challenges of entrepreneurship, additional revenue streams with branded apparel on demand, and much more.

Ritter’s Printing Increases Focus on Labels & Packaging for Future Growth

Published July 14, 2025

It’s always a pleasure to visit family-owned printing companies that are excited about the business, adding new capabilities, and entering new markets. Ritter’s Printing & Packaging is one such company. Evolving over time from a Franklin’s franchise to a full-fledged printing and packaging (folding carton/labels) operation, they have a great story to tell.

IDC’s Tim Greene Talks About Developments in Digital Textile Printing

Published June 23, 2025

IDC Research Director Tim Greene was a bit ahead of the times when he conducted several multi-client and custom research studies on digital textile printing while he was at CAP Ventures/InfoTrends in 2014. Since those days, he sees dramatic progress and explains why.

Dialog Direct Looks to Upgrade Its Bindery

Published June 18, 2025

Jeff Cox, Operations Manager, Dialog Direct and Qualfon, explains the applications that Dialog Direct products, using offset and digital technologies. He discusses how new technologies have helped gain customers, and talks about what he is looking for at Standard Finishing's Finishing 360 customer event.

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Professor Develops New Tech for Fiber-to-Fiber Recycling

Published June 17, 2025

Textile waste is a huge environmental problem, and recycling textiles is complicated by the fact that most textiles are not monomaterial but rather blends such as poly/cotton. Plus dyes are problematic in the recycling process. Cary Sherburne talks with Dr. Yiqi Yang, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, whose team has developed a revolutionary process for fiber-to-fiber recycling that addresses all these issues. Now we need brands to invest in further development and scaling of the project!

Future Forward Factory Takes Aim at GHG Emissions

Published June 16, 2025

There’s been talk for years by textile industry stakeholders about making substantive changes to manufacturing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but to quote a common saying, it seems like all hat and no cowboy—such limited progress has been made. But now a project between Fashion for Good and Arvind stands to drive needed change.

Rick Baker of Print Tech WPA Highlights the Importance of Staying Current with Technology

Published June 16, 2025

Rick Baker, President, Print Tech WPA, talks with Cary Sherburne about the company's strategy for transitioning to primarily digital production and increasing automation on the back end to keep up with digital production. He talks about the value of visiting customer centers like the one Standard Finishing hosts to keep up with what's coming and learning how new equipment can augment production.

Project Goldsmith by Adobe Simplifies Print Embellishment

Published June 9, 2025

Cary Sherburne talks with Mike Scrutton, Director - Print Technology and Strategy at Adobe, about Project Goldsmith by Adobe, a prepress toolkit that makes it easy to add embellishments to printed files without all the time-consuming back and forth and rework that is often required to add foils or other embellishments to printed work. See it live at Amplify!

Frustrated with Discarding those Takeaway Food Boxes? TOMRA Has a Solution for More Sustainable Eating Out

Published June 9, 2025

Consumers, especially younger generations, are becoming more conscious of eliminating waste and diverting waste from landfills. While take-out or delivery food is convenient, it can be frustrating to have to throw away the containers knowing they will end up, perhaps permanently, in landfills. TOMRA has an answer.

Are You Up to Date on the Latest Packaging Regulations?

Published June 3, 2025

In 2024, and into 2025 and beyond, there are a plethora of regulations going into effect around the globe that affect the packaging industry. In this article, we recap many of them in order to provide our members with the latest information. Keep in mind that even if you don’t have a physical presence in a given region, if your products are sold there, you are likely bound by and must comply with local laws and regulations.

Copyright and Artificial Intelligence: A Report from the U.S. Copyright Office—Key takeaways and A Look to the Future

Published June 2, 2025

The U.S. Copyright Office released a three-part report on the impact of artificial intelligence as it relates to copyright issues. I probably would not have taken the time to read it but for the fact that upon publication of Part Three, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, was fired (via email) along with the previous firing of U.S. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, by the current administration. I wondered what was in the report that triggered these actions.

Adobe PDF Print Engine Version 7 Adds Ground Breaking New Features

Published May 27, 2025

At FESPA, Adobe announced Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE) Version 7 which offers some truly unique new capabilities, including Transparency Blending and Separation Technology—and an industry first, unlocking the full potential of an Extended Colour Gamut (ECG). In this interview, Mark Lewiecki, Product Manager for APPE, discusses the range of new capabilities and why they are important to the industry.

Francis McMahon Joins Tecnau as President and CMO

Published May 21, 2025

Francis McMahon retired after 37 years in the industry, but we all knew he'd be back. Cary Sherburne talks with Francis about how, In his new role, he will be learning in more depth a part of the business he was involved with at previous companies, but wasn't the primary focus: feeding and finishing.

Managing Tariffs: A Few Loopholes

Published May 20, 2025

In this interview with Gary Wang, International Logistics Consultant at Interport in Miami, he discusses how their operation helps clients make sense of tariffs and how they will affect their businesses, and he provides several examples. The company can advise prior to an order, as well as help manage transit. For example, goods just passing through the U.S. port heading to another country or going directly onto a cruise ship will not incur tariffs. Very interesting discussion for anyone who is importing things these days!

Raising the Stakes: How One Company Benefits from Inclusivity

Published May 19, 2025

In my overview of Kornit Konnections, the recently held Kornit Digital users group, I mentioned a presentation by Stakes Manufacturing. The company’s unique approach to inclusivity deserves the more in-depth look this article presents.

Kornit Konnections Draws 250 Attendees to Miami

Published May 12, 2025

As Kornit’s customer base has grown, so has the value of a formalized user group. With the establishment of Kornit Konnections three years ago, the event has grown year over year, attracting 250 attendees for its Miami event at the end of April. We provide highlights from the event in this article.

Simon Lewis Joins Landa Digital Printing as VP of Marketing

Published April 23, 2025

As most of our members know, Simon has a rich history in the world of digital printing, dating back 31 years to early digital prepress. In this video, he talks about his background and why he joined Landa Digital Printing. He talked about the symbiosis between offset and digital. And he also highlighted a couple of customers as examples of how this technology has been a bet-the-company move for many Landa customers, who have been able to call in that bet with the success it has brought them.

Sustainability Challenges for the Textile Industry

Published April 21, 2025

The Sourcing Journal has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, and it is chock full of all of the latest sustainability news and challenges facing the textiles industry. If you are in the industry or a consumer who cares about the impact of your textile (apparel) purchases, it’s a must-read. We provide a brief overview here, focused mostly on recycling, but there’s lots more to be learned in the report!

Could Tariffs Actually Help the Environment?

Published April 14, 2025

To say that the whole tariff situation is tumultuous is an understatement. But whether or not you are in favor of them, there may be some hidden value. In this article, we discuss the potential impact tariffs could have on textile-related pollution, including the dreaded Fast Fashion.

Smithers Projects Continued Growth in Dye Sub Market

Published April 14, 2025

In this interview, Smithers Associate Consultant Jon Harper Smith shares highlights from the recently published report on the Dye Sublimation industry, including present market values in euros and in volume, as well as the company's forecast through 2029. He shares interesting information on the growth opportunities in the market and some of the barriers as well as a brief description of what dye sublimation is in the textiles and apparel industry.

Kornit Launches User Group Meeting in Miami

Published April 8, 2025

Leta Wood, Director of Marketing at Kornit, explains the upcoming Kornit Konnections User Group conference scheduled for April 27-29 in Miami, including some of the topics and speakers that will be featured. In addition, she discusses the state of digital textile printing and the barriers that still need to be overcome. At Konnections, more than 50% of attendees are representing brands, and important stakeholder in the textile industry.

Gelato Receives Fast Company Innovation Recognition

Published April 3, 2025

In this interview, Henrik Müller-Hansen, Founder and CEO of Gelato, discusses their recent recognition by Fast Company as an innovator in the manufacturing space. He also details the value of an integrated software solution that goes from procurement through logistics. He believes there is a real opportunity for print service providers to reach a 10% profit margin by leveraging this type of AI-assisted integrated software approach for managing the business.

A 2025 Sustainability Outlook for Textiles and Packaging

Published March 31, 2025

As we enter 2025, we also enter a time of growing climate-based trauma for Planet Earth. Both textiles and packaging contribute to these issues, and both are facing increasing regulatory actions designed to reduce their impact. In this article, we provide an overview of the climate situation, the actions being taken, and some hopeful signs for the future.

Living Ink Technologies Offers Alternative to Carbon Black for Printing Inks

Published March 25, 2025

Living Ink Technologies offers a carbon-negative pigment for use in black inks that can be a drop-in replacement for black inks using less sustainable, petroleum-based carbon black feedstocks. In this interview, Devon Murrie, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Growth for Living Ink Technologies, explains the difference between Algae Ink, using bio-based waste streams, and carbon-black-based inks and why they are attractive to so many brands for printing on both textile- and paper-based printed items.

Insight into Top Climate Trends for 2025

Published March 17, 2025

Even though it seems the focus has somewhat been taken off of climate with new White House strategies and approaches, the Zero Carbon Academy expects firms to conduct a balancing act between short-term and long-term climate goals. They identified Top Trends for 2025, which we summarize here.

Fiery Post-Acquisition Update

Published March 10, 2025

I recently had the opportunity to visit the new Fiery LLC headquarters in Fremont, Calif., and spend time with its CEO, Toby Weiss. Toby has been with the company through a few changes in ownership for more than 15 years. He shares his thoughts about the Epson acquisition, what it means for Fiery and its partners, and some thoughts about the future.

25 Years Since Launching and Mimeo is Still Innovating

Published February 24, 2025

It’s been some time since we have provided an update on on-demand printer Mimeo. I recently had the opportunity to speak with the company’s Vice President of Engineering, Bassim Alamiry, who shared the latest company updates.

Frank Henderson Explains How Automation Has Changed Sewing

Published February 10, 2025

In apparel manufacturing, there is a great deal of automation, but historically cut and sew has been the last mile in terms of the time to market. Cutting is quite automated these days, and as Frank Henderson explains, so is sewing! He shares his thoughts about automation, AI and more based on 51 years in the business founded by his grandfather.

Modern Litho St. Louis Expands Direct Mail Capabilities

Published February 3, 2025

Skip Bray, President of Modern Litho St. Louis, talks to Cary Sherburne, providing an update on Modern Litho, an 85-year-old company, and shares the news about its acquisition of direct mail experts and updated equipment. The company was producing some direct mail in the past, but with this new addition, Bray expects direct mail to comprise 20% of the business by the end of 2025.

Kornit and Printful Announce Expanded Partnership

Published January 30, 2025

Printful, a global ecommerce platform for on-demand merchandise production, has expanded its decade-long relationship with Kornit Digital to upgrade its fleet of more than 80 Kornit ATLAS direct-to-garment presses to ATLAS MAX to take advantage of additional capabilities. The company has eight plants around the globe. In this video, Zane Levsa, COO, and Chris Ozols, Head of R&D and QA, explain Printful's operation, production platform, and the reasons behind expanding the partnership with Kornit.

DS Smith’s Innovative Recycling Process: A Model for the Industry

Published January 29, 2025

Scott Williams, Head of Recycling at DS Smith North America, explains how the company's recycling operation works and the value it delivers to the company, its customers, and the planet. Williams brings a strong recycling background to his work at DS Smith.

A 2025 Sustainability Outlook for Textiles and Packaging

Published January 27, 2025

As we enter 2025, we also enter a time of growing climate-based trauma for Planet Earth. Both textiles and packaging contribute to these issues, and both are facing increasing regulatory actions designed to reduce their impact. In this article, we provide an overview of the climate situation, the actions being taken, and some hopeful signs for the future.

Kyocera Highlights Major Print Industry Trends for 2025

Published January 20, 2025

As it ramps up its production print (inkjet) business, Kyocera has released a report highlighting major trends in the printing industry as we enter 2025, including security, analog-to-digital transformation, office-to-production print migration, sustainabilty and more. Trevor Maloney, Production Print Manager at Kyocera in London, explains.

Digital Product Passports and Other 2025 Environmental Regulations You Should Be Aware Of

Published January 6, 2025

When we first began covering Digital Product Passports back in March of 2024, not much was being written about this emerging regulatory requirement. But these days, it seems like I get an article or press release about Digital Product Passports weekly or more! In this story, we bring updates on how and where Digital Product Passports are required as well as a reminder of what a Digital Product Passport is. Think they don’t apply to you? You may change that opinion after you read this.

Adapting to Challenges in the Digital Textile Market: How Sun Chemical Is Supporting Long-Term Growth in the Segment

Published December 16, 2024

I recently listened to a very informative fireside chat hosted by the World Textile Information Network (WTIN) and wanted to share a summary for our readers who are interested in this segment. Content was presented by two Sun Chemical executives: Simon Daplyn, Manager, Product Marketing; and the company’s business leader for textiles, Edri Baggi.

Former EFI CTO Ghilad Dziesietnik Shares Insight into Inkjet in China

Published December 16, 2024

After not having visited China for five years, Ghilad had the opportunity to visit a client there, DPI, who recently licensed some inkjet-related technology and equipment from EFI. He shares his perceptions on the Chinese market, including their significant focus on increased quality, exploring both in-country and exports for textile and packaging printing equipment and inks, as well as innovation into other markets.

Interloop Develops Innovative Use for Banana Plantation Waste

Published December 10, 2024

Interloop is one of the largest textile companies in Pakistan with more than 35,000 employees. The company recently launched an innovative project, LoomShake, wherein banana plantation waste is collected (instead of being burned) and converted to fibers that can be used in a cotton blend, reducing cotton usage, and the water cotton requires, by 20%. Fahid shares the story in this video interview.

COP29 Cop-Out: A Disappointing Deal with No Real Accountability Leaves Developing Countries Outraged

Published December 2, 2024

Although countries pledged last year at COP28 to develop a clear plan to transition away from fossil fuels and triple renewable energy capacity, no clear plan to do so came out of this year’s summits. It’s not a good indicator of what the future will hold in terms of the climate crisis, with no clear global agreement on exactly what needs to be done, and how the world will pull together to get it done.

Gelato Connect Integrates with Amazon, Expanding Its Global Network

Published November 21, 2024

At drupa, Gelato launched Gelato Connect, a software solution that enables printers to more efficiently participate in the world of ecommerce. Henrik Müller-Hansen, the company's founder and CEO, explains how Gelato Connect functions as part of the overall supply chain and what the Amazon—and other integrations—mean for the printer.

What’s Fueling Fashion Over-Consumption? And What Can We Do About It?

Published November 11, 2024

As the year comes to a close, we’re back on our soapbox about over-consumption, especially in fashion. Although we don’t mention fast fashion in this article, we are looking at you, Zara, Shein, and others who are pushing out low-quality, highly trendy stuff that usually ends up in the landfill. This article places a focus on several of the online resale platforms that make buying and selling fashion easy for consumers—even profitable—enabling a circular lifecycle and helping to reduce fashion’s horrendous climate impact. If you know of resale platforms we haven’t discussed here, please add them in the comments section, with a few words about how you have used them!

Adobe Adds Integrated Print Capability to Adobe Express

Published November 6, 2024

Cary Sherburne looks at a new collaboration between Adobe and Zazzle that adds integrated printing capabilities to Adobe Express and allows users to design and order printed products through an open print ecosystem.

Are You In Control of Your VOC Emissions?

Published November 4, 2024

Cary Sherburne talks with Anoosheh Oskouian, CEO and President of Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc., about their Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer solutions, designed to capture VOCs and other emissions and eliminate them safely.

Still Wondering About the Epson Fiery Acquisition?

Published November 4, 2024

As noted at the time by my colleague David Zwang, many were scratching their heads over Epson’s acquisition of Fiery. Last Friday, November 1, Epson provided more detail about its strategy and expectations related to this acquisition, which are summarized here.

Building a Fortress: Four Strategies for Supply Chain Resilience

Published October 31, 2024

If the pandemic taught us anything, it's how really fragile supply chains are, especially in today's turbulent world. In this interview, Cary Sherburne talks with John Marrow, who heads up RR Donnelley's supply chain solutions. He shares the insight and advice gained from a report outlining results of a recent survey.

The Inside Scoop: The PGCA and PGAMA Merger

Published October 29, 2024

In this interview, Tim Freeman and Melissa Jones, co-presidents of PGCA, discuss the merger of PGAMA with PGCA, what it means for the region, an update on programs and membership, and more.

Will a New California Law Make a Dent in Textile Waste?

Published October 21, 2024

California’s governor just signed into law a first-in-the-nation law requiring companies that make clothing, footwear, and textiles—including drapes, towels and bedding—to set up the nation’s first mandatory take-back program for unwanted clothes. This comes on the heels of a similar law in France, foreshadowing big changes for the industry and hopefully, benefits for the planet.

Best Practices for Hiring and Retaining Employees in a Labor-Constrained Market

Published October 14, 2024

Finding talent continues to be an issue for many printing and packaging businesses, perhaps even more so than in other industries due to perceptions about the business that are no longer accurate. In this article, we offer 10 suggestions for hiring and retaining talent that may help you ensure access to the best possible talent pool in your business.

Leveraging Interdisciplinary Research for Smarter Fashion

Published October 10, 2024

In this interview, Eldy Lazaro Vasquez, a Ph.D. candidate at the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder, an interdisciplinary institute for radical creativity and invention that works to transform ingenious ideas into reality through research, experimentation, and critical thinking, explains how she has invented a machine specifically designed to spin fibers from bio-based materials, with a view toward future scalability. The first material she experimented with was gelatin, leading to a textile publication's title of "Dissolvable Duds."

Leveraging Interdisciplinary Research for Smarter Fashion

Published October 7, 2024

Work at the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder is leveraging interdisciplinary research to develop new bio-based fibers that can be dissolved using heat at end of life, supporting disassembly and electronics recyclability in smart textiles, as well as to make textiles more sustainable and less reliant on petroleum-based feedstocks.

Sean Smyth of Smithers on Important drupa Developments

Published October 7, 2024

The Smithers team made a list of some 40 developments they noted at drupa 2024 and then reached out to a range of industry journalists and analysts, asking them to rate their importance to the industry and potential viability. In this interview, Sean summarizes the findings which are now available from Smithers.com.

WhatTheyThink to Become Hosting Organization for TAGA in Transfer from PRINTING United

Published October 1, 2024

In this interview, TAGA Past President Mark Bohan provides background information on TAGA, including its history dating back to the late 1940s, and its current goals and objectives. He also talks about the upcoming March conference and how people can get involved.

Designing for Next Use: Changing the Focus in Textiles and Packaging

Published September 30, 2024

Circularity in both textiles and packaging is getting more attention, and importantly, not just recyclability or using recycled materials, but creating a truly circular life cycle that begins with designing for next use. This article explores this concept and uses two companies—Patagonia and DS Smith—as examples of what’s possible to truly create a circular economy.

DC Advisory Managing Directors Speak About Their Role in the Epson/Fiery Acquisition

Published September 25, 2024

In a cross-border M&A such as Epson acquiring Fiery, the transaction can be more complex than a more traditional transaction that occurs within the borders of one country. In this interview, Tom Krasnewich, Managing Director at DC Advisory US, and Tosh Kojima, Managing Director for DC Advisory London, share their perspective as the advisors to Siris LLC in this transaction

Circularity in Textiles: Some Thoughts About How to Get There

Published September 23, 2024

It seems like all of a sudden, news about forward movement in circularity initiatives for the textile industry are coming fast and furiously. In this article, we summarize a few of them and explain their importance—to the industry and to the planet!

Slow Fashion and Landmark Textile Recycling Bill: Some Progress Underway, But We Still Need More!

Published September 16, 2024

We’ve been talking a great deal about the deleterious effects of fast fashion on our planet. Now we have a counterpoint to discuss—an effort in Congress to rein in fast fashion with the launch of the Slow Fashion Caucus. Plus, California is putting even more teeth into its recycling efforts with a proposed bill that establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for recycling clothing and textile fibers. And France is proposing a Fast Fashion Tax and an EU ban on exporting used clothing.

Carbon Capture Dichotomy: Real Investments or Carbon Credits?

Published September 9, 2024

Two articles recently caught my attention relative to sustainability and carbon capture. Google and Microsoft are taking diametrically opposed actions. (And by the way, they are also collaborating on some initiatives!) In this article, we reiterate definitions of carbon offsets or credits and the most common ways it is implemented, as well as discuss the difference between investing in carbon capture or removal directly and through credits. Carbon capture is likely the fastest way to stem the tide of climate crisis, although it won’t happen overnight. There are some big projects underway, but many still need to reach scale and affordability. And they need to be done safely, ethically, and transparently.

DS Smith Actively Promotes Circularity in Packaging

Published September 3, 2024

In this interview with Shaun Stamford, Customer Value Manager at DS Smith, Shaun explains DS Smith's approach to circularity and Net Zero, including beginning with designing for next use and taking into consideration Scope 1, 2, and 3 metrics with a goal of attaining Net Zero by 2050.

Kornit Plans Big Splash at PRINTING United

Published August 29, 2024

Kornit, a leader in digital fabric printing and workflow solutions, will be present at PRINTING United in two booths, both in the South Hall. In this interview, Sharon Donovich, Director at Kornit Digital, explains what visitors to their stands will see and also provides a market update on digital fabric printing, why it is a good add-on for businesses looking for diversification, and much, much, more.