Get an edge on your competition with these innovative apparel decorating trends and products.

Eco-friendly and sustainable products, customization, integrated equipment options and inkjet-to-garment digital printing were the overriding themes for the products showcased at SGIA ’07, which was held last fall in Orlando. The idea that creativity leads to innovation, and innovation results in new revenue sources was evident throughout the exhibit floor, says Michael Robertson, SGIA’s president and CEO. “The increased value of creativity as a
marketable skill within the [apparel decorating] community is a very positive step,” he says. “Selling creative services helps fend off commoditization. In an industry that is constantly
upgrading and changing, the way to survive is to look for new ways to be creative.” To that end, exhibiting manufacturers and suppliers debuted hundreds of products that support the need for creative and often earth-friendly decorating options. Whether it be inkjet-to-garment
digitally printed jeans that feature rhinestone transfers for added bling, or a dynamic T-shirt design printed using discharge ink for an edgy, retail look, today’s decorated apparel is all about taking simple designs to the next level. And while creativity drives today’s successful decorator, it’s important to understand that ours is an industry prime for products and processes that are less harmful to the environment.The green movement is the industry hot topic, and nearly every major ink maker now offers a line of environmentally friendlier inks, whether they are water-based or PVC- or phthalate-free formulations. Suppliers also have answered the call for greener solutions in spot-cleaning fluids, haze and emulsion removers, screen cleaners and more.

GOING DIRECT The inkjet-to-garment digital printing arena is one sector that bills itself as a somewhat safer environmental option than traditional plastisol screen printing because the technology eliminates the need for screen prep and reclamation steps. This equipment category has exploded in recent years, with a record number of manufacturers introducing machines designed for both high-production runs and small custom orders. Both the large and smaller models are ideal for the red-hot mass customization market, which gives
decorators access to thousands of potential clients they might not reach via their local
marketing efforts. One such equipment maker is Brain Union System, which showcased its Bus-Jet printers at the show. The Korean factory, which built some of the early inkjet-to-garment printers sold under other brands in the U.S., was showing its own machines at
SGIA for the first time. CEO Hudson Moon said the company had been marketing machines under the BUS brand since 2004 and had 1,500 installations worldwide, though most were in non-textile print shops. Hand-printed signs in the large booth advertised single platen show floor models for less than $10,000. Moon said entry-level production models would wholesale between $10,000 and $13,000 depending upon ink feed configuration and whether or not the printer was bundled with SignPro RIP software.

Kornit is another equipment pioneer in the inkjet-to-garment printing arena, and
the company has developed the first-of-itskind digital add-on station for screen printing
carousels. Model 933 is part of Kornit’s D.O.G. line, and is an example of an integrated
equipment offering for the screen printer looking to diversify his business.
Traditional screen printers can use the technology to create combined printing applications
on an array of substrates. For example, users can print detailed plastisol designs or simple spot-color work on their regular press, and combine those with digital direct printing on the same garment. They also can use the add-on station for pure digital applications, giving them the ability to do short, personalized runs even on dark garments. The add-on station works with either manual or automatic screen printing carousels. It uses four industrial printheads that are available with either CMYK or white inks developed by
the company. The company also demoed updates to its industry-standard inkjets, the singleplaten 932 and dual-platen 931. While Kornit printers are priced at the top of the market, company reps noted that Kornit-made inks wholesale for a modest $100 per liter, making the printers pricecompetitive over time on a cost-per-unit basis with less-expensive printers. Kornit also touted the technical advances of its new white underbase ink for printing on darks. According to the company, the new water-based white ink is less prone to clogging than other white underbase inkjet inks and forms a chemical bond with fabrics
pretreated with a proprietary wetting agent. With CMYK inks printed wet-on-wet over the underbase, printed garments display exceptional wash-resistance, according to the company. The Israel-based company also introduced an online mass customization
storefront solution. Partnering with Lupa, the Israeli market leader in online printon- demand photo books, it announced WOW, the Kornit Website Order Wizard. It offers decorators the power to manage and produce small custom-made orders through an online shop, which features an intuitive garment design interface and a turnkey backend system for managing orders, production, billing and logistics.

reprinted by permission of Impressions