The digital textile printing landscape, specifically Direct-to-Garment (DTG) and Direct-to-Film (DTF) technologies, is poised for rapid expansion, according to a recent report by global business intelligence firm, Textiles Intelligence. Their 21-page analysis, ‘Digital printing direct to fabrics and garments: developments and growth prospects,’ highlights the transformative impact of these innovations on the industry.
As per this report, digital textile printing offers unparalleled advantages, including virtually unlimited color choices, extensive customization options, and significant flexibility in both design and production. Recent advancements in this segment have made these processes even more efficient. Modern digital textile printing machines are highly versatile, capable of printing on a wide array of fabrics. Crucially, many now eliminate the need for pre-processing and post-processing equipment or specialist operators, making them resource-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly due to their low operational impact. Industry players manufacturing these machines include Brother, ColorJet, EFI Reggiani, Epson, Kornit Digital, Mimaki, and Sawgrass.
Both DTG and DTF are profoundly impacting the apparel sector. DTG printing uses inkjet technology to apply high-quality, full-color designs directly onto garments. In contrast, DTF printing utilizes a polyester film to transfer bold and durable designs onto fabric. These newer digital printing methods are ideally suited for creating on-demand, up-to-the-minute designs. This makes them particularly valuable for e-commerce platforms, which thrive on rapid turnaround times and diverse product offerings, and the fast fashion sector, which demands quick design iterations and frequent product launches. DTG and DTF reduce lead times and streamline production processes to meet these needs, having been developed specifically in response to the expanding requirements of these dynamic segments.
Particularly, DTF printing has emerged as a major phenomenon. As per estimates, approximately 7 billion items were produced worldwide using DTF printing in 2024, and a remarkable 50 per cent of all T-shirts produced globally are now decorated using this technology. This explosive growth has been significantly driven by major investments in China. Singapore-headquartered online ultra-fast fashion retailer, Shein is a pioneer in DTF and has developed two in-house DTF printing methods: Digital Thermal Transfer Printing and Cool Transfer Denim Printing. These methods are touted for their low environmental impact, with Cool Transfer Denim Printing notably consuming 70 per cent less water than conventional denim washing methods for wash effects.
