With its Epson SureColor F7070 and SureColor F6070 Printers showcased at an event just before New York Fashion Week, Epson, one of the largest manufacturers of printers worldwide, has shown to the global textile printing market how their innovative systems can benefit it. As Agustin Chacon, VP of subsidiary sales and operations, Epson America points out the future is now and technology continues to push the fashion industry forward and inspire creativity and innovation. This technology gives entrepreneurs a way to produce their art in an efficient and affordable manner. It provides a whole new level of creative and functional versatility, he assured.

Epson SureColor F7070 printer produced a set of roses on a textile background, with the SureColor F6070 creating Jeffrey Fulvimari designed T-shirts, which utilised dye-sublimation technology that Epson has included in the SureColor printers. These two printers are aimed at fashion forward designers who want to be able to print directly onto fabric with high quality results. Both printers use UltraChrome DS ink from Epson that has been created to give fabrics of range of vivid colours. SureColor F7070 will retail at $9000 with the SureColor F6070 reaching a higher price point of $20,000, with these prices expected to be within the budgets of even designers that are just starting out in the fashion industry.

The Asia-Pacific textile printing market is currently the biggest globally, with an expected CAGR of over 4 per cent until 2020. The main reason for Asia becoming the market leader is because of rising population and strong economic growth in both India and China.

Key players in the global textile printing market, which is heavily dependent on consumer trends and the trends within the fashion industry, will face major challenges. It is important that companies in this market ensure they monitor developments in the fashion industry, so that new printers will meet changing industry needs.