PRINT PERFECTION www.anthemclothing.com @Anthemclothing _ @AnthemclothingAM PENCARRIE: 0800 252248 PRESTIGE LEISURE: 0800 6521234 RALAWISE: 0800 212180 RALAWISE IRELAND: 1 800 599599 AM010 Anthem T-Shir t CERTIFIED ORGANIC COTTON Embrace the festival vibe, wear it loud and proud! AVAILABLE IN COLOURS 22 XS-6XL Khaki Kelly Royal Lavender Yellow
www.images-magazine.com 02 images JUNE 2023 SHOP TALK 04 Editorial 08 Print Shop Pooches #91 Bella from Embello 14 Decorated product of the month 20 Readers’ choice 80 Up close & personal Nick Macfarlane of Kornit Digital NEWS HUB 06 Industry news Next Level Apparel switches to recycled polyester, Brother and Epson launch new DTG printers, and record numbers attend Print & Stitch roadshow KNOWLEDGE BASE 30 The Business Clinic What to do if an employee accuses a colleague of bullying, and the FSB discusses issues facing those exporting goods from the UK 32 Digital helpdesk Want to know how the big shops maximise their added value to customers? Nic Simons, founder of the directto-garment print specialist Shirt Monkey, shares all 34 Anatomy of a print Ján Onderík explains how a superbly detailed design of broken concrete was printed by Frontlines of Slovakia using just one colour 36 Sunny side up The soaring cost of electricity has made solar panels an appealing option. Darren Fernandes explains how he installed a solar power system at his factory, the costs involved, and the benefits 69 Overlocking without investing Dominic Bunce of David Sharp shows you how to mimic a merrow border without the need for an overlocking machine 70 Hat tricks Throw your hat into the summer headwear ring with these DTF and vinyl cap decorating techniques from Xpres and Target Transfers 72 Ask Tony Michaël Vangeneugden of Kadeco Vision in Belgium asks: “When is the best time to invest in direct-to-screen equipment?” 74 Effort is required Hoping for a brighter future? Stop dreaming and start putting the work in, counsels Marshall Atkinson 76 Thread care The most critical consumable in embroidery is thread. Erich Campbell helps you decide which is the best thread for your particular set-up, and how to store it properly PRODUCT FOCUS 42 Green is the new black! From recycled polyester hoodies to organic or inconversion-to-organic cotton tees, our selection of the latest sustainable garments from leading brands is here to help your eco-conscious customers go green 56 Grab the essentials From DTF solutions to ecofriendly inks, threads and transfers, our annual roundup of consumables for the decorated garment and textile industry provides an indispensable guide to the current best-in-class options 64 Telling it like it is: manual screen printing press Maite Golding of Yay London tells us how her WPS printing carousel is working out for her 65 Manual workers A snapshot of manual printing equipment that is ideal for those starting their screen print journey 66 Style is always on the menu! With business back on track in restaurants and cafés, it’s time to dig in to the current decorator-friendly options for the hospitality and catering industry, from smart aprons to stylish shirts and accessories INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT 28 Silver service New names at the top won’t change the ‘customerfirst’ ethos at Sabur. As the company celebrates its silver anniversary, Aaron Burton and Dean Sanger look back over the past 25 years – and set their sights on the future 37 Lucky stars The ability to spot an opportunity and make the most of it takes nerves of steel and hard graft – something Andy Dark and John Armstrong of Custom Planet know only too well 52 The evolution of a brand Images charts how, over a quarter of a century, Henbury has grown from a start-up offering five polos to a wellloved brand that comprises nine labels and manufactures more than 400 styles 54 Indie spirit Indie Ink managing director Andy Hancock talks to Images about the challenges and potential of direct-to-film printing CONTENTS 38 32 34 37 54 42 40 69
© 2023 – Beechfield Brands Ltd. All Rights Reserved. W623 Fairtrade Cotton Classic Shopper WESTFORDMILL.COM PENCARRIE 0800 252 248 | BTC ACTIVEWEAR 0800 012 4542 PRESTIGE LEISURE UK 0800 652 1234 | RALAWISE 0800 212 180 consciously crafted.
www.images-magazine.com 04 images JUNE 2023 Published by: 360 Communications Ltd Images, 360 Communications Ltd, Citibase Brighton, 95 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4ST, UK 01273 748482 | www.images-magazine.com Advertising: advertising@images-magazine.com Editorial: editorial@images-magazine.com Subscriptions: subscriptions@images-magazine.com | Images is free of charge to UK subscribers Publisher/advertising: Jonathan Vince | jonathan@images-magazine.com Features editor: Rachael Glazier | rachael@images-magazine.com News editor: Mark Ludmon | mark@images-magazine.com Publishing assistant: Gaby Bowring | gaby@images-magazine.com Design/Production: ATG Media | production@atgraphicsuk.com Printing: Stephens & George Ltd | Goat Mill Road,Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3TD (issn 0966 7512) Opinions expressed by contributors in this magazine are not necessarily shared by the Publisher. Editorial contributions are invited, on the understanding that the Publisher has the right to alter or abridge all such material as he sees fit. While the greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the Publisher accepts no liability for either errors or omissions. EDITORIAL this year’s top brandable apparel made from organic and recycled fabrics. Fabrics and garments are only a part of the wider, more complex eco-textiles story, however. As a decorator, the products you use to embellish your garments with are just as important. Thankfully, as you’ll discover in ‘Grab the essentials’ (page 56), there is an ever-increasing range of consumables that will help you to tick all of your environmentallyconscious customers’ boxes. Madeira is a leader in this area with its Sensa Green and Polyneon Green embroidery threads, Marathon’s threads are Oeko-Tex-100 certified, MagnaColours has long been waving the flag for water-based screen inks, and Dae Ha UK has both Oeko-Tex and ISO14001 certification for its new DTF film, which is manufactured using 40% recycled polyester. Speaking of Dae Ha UK, the company has announced that it is partnering with ink manufacturer Mexar whose Indie Ink-branded DTF inks are the only DTF inks manufactured in the UK. The inks, along with the company’s DTF films and powders, are also Oeko-Tex Eco Passport accredited. We caught up with Andy Hancock, managing director of Mexar and Indie Ink, to discuss the challenges and potential of the DTF printing process. You’ll find plenty of fascinating comment, insight and advice in ‘Indie Spirit’ (page 54). Along with garment and consumables choices, cutting out waste plays a critical role in attempts to make the garment and textile decoration industry ‘greener’. Former responsible sourcing and ESG director for Asos, Simon Platt, will be one of several experts discussing how decorators can eliminate inefficiencies in production at the upcoming Kornit UK Live event, which takes place at T Shirt & Sons, in Westbury, on 21 June. Turn to page 27 to get a flavour of the event and to reserve your space. Jonathan Vince SIGN UP! Register now to receive your own FREE monthly copy of Images: imagesmag.uk/register UPDATE CONTACT DETAILS Moved to new premises? WFH? Update your details online: imagesmag.uk/subs-update JUNE 2023 VOL.32 NO.6 IMAGES DIGITAL STATS 1 April-30 April, 2023 www.images-magazine.com Users: 29,764 Page views: 36,113 Top post: 222 views @ImagesMagUK Impressions: 5,527 Top tweet: 893 impressions Profile visits: 274 @ImagesMagUK Reach: 2,298 Page visits: 188 @imagesmaguk Reach: 2,014 Profile visits: 212 In a poll of 2,000 UK consumers, 70% said they would be less likely to buy from a brand that made false claims about products being organic Greenwashing won’t wash There can be little doubt that consumers have a growing appetite for garments they consider to be environmentally-friendly. However, as a couple of recent polls reveal, that growing appetite is accompanied by an increasing intolerance for ‘greenwashing’. A poll of 2,000 UK consumers as part of Organic Textile Week in May revealed that almost three in five (57%) felt it was important that the clothes they buy are genuinely sustainable, while 70% said they would be less likely to buy from a brand that falsely claimed its products were organic. Meanwhile, a poll of 1,000 small businesses by Novuna Business Finance found that nine in 10 of these businesses check the sustainability credentials of companies before deciding to work with them. Of those polled, 89% check ‘green’ claims and 58% actively seek out official certifications. Taken together these findings provide an added incentive – if any were needed – to ensure that your own products and processes are squeaky clean and a match for customers’ expectations. To get the ball rolling, why not turn to ‘Green is the new black!’ (page 42), where you’ll find a showcase of
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 06 images JUNE 2023 Brother adds GTX DTG printer with orange and green Brother has expanded its GTX600 direct-to-garment (DTG) printer series with the new GTX600 Extra Colors, which extends the colour gamut with orange and green. It allows for more printed colours and promises more vibrancy and more detailed results because of the greater depth and wider colour spectrum possible. The GTX600 Extra Colors features six Brother-made staggered industrial print heads with internal cooling fans to ensure continuous printing operation. Due to the staggered arrangement of the print heads, white ink is printed first, followed by orange and green, with CMYK as the top layer. The inks are filtered and degassed to guarantee high print quality up to 1,200 dpi, and it has a built-in air filter along with plates in different sizes to handle a wide range of textiles. The plates, which are up to 61cm, are designed to be easy and quick to change. The printer can automatically adjust the plate height to create the best distance between print heads and textile. Brother has also announced that it is building on its expertise in industrial garment printing to enter a new area of the market with a latex wide-format printer, the WF1-L640. It is designed for a large range of applications such as banners, drawings, window graphics, storefront signage, trade show graphics, vehicle wraps and outdoor advertising. imagesmag.uk/gtx-extra-colors Epson launches SureColor F2200 DTG printer Epson has launched a direct-to-garment (DTG) printer, the SureColor F2200, tailored for medium-volume production and capable of direct-to-film (DTF) printing. Described as “a significant upgrade” to its SureColor F2100 large-format printer, the new SureColor machine is aimed at start-up companies or mediumvolume businesses that need high levels of flexibility and accuracy with fast turnaround times. It was unveiled at this year’s Fespa Global Print Expo in Munich in May as part of Epson’s digital printer range for dye sublimation, DTG and direct-tofabric printing. Designed to produce complex designs on a variety of garments, the SureColor F2200 uses Epson’s advanced PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head technology for fast printing and data processing speeds. This results in a productivity increase of up to 25% over the SureColor F2100 on light garments, and up to 15% for darker garments, while maintaining a high print quality. It has a compact, flat-top design that allows for easy installation into smaller spaces. Features include a transparent lid and internal light, which enable quick print-status checking, while an intuitive 11cm touchscreen makes operation fast and simple. Next Level Apparel switches to recycled polyester Garment supplier Next Level Apparel has announced that it is transitioning its entire product line of polyester blended fabrics to recycled polyester. It made the move at the start of March, impacting all incoming fabrics from then onwards, and it follows the company’s 2019 launch of its Sustainable Collection, manufactured from an eco-friendly fabric made with 70% recycled material. Next Level Apparel CEO Randy Hales said: “Our transition to recycled polyester marks a big step in our ongoing sustainability efforts – and we’re proud our company ethos is reflected in the products we produce.” Earlier this year, the company transitioned all incoming fabric to 100% US-grown cotton. Next Level Apparel garments are distributed in the UK through wholesaler PenCarrie. imagesmag.uk/nextlevel-polyester Next Level Apparel’s Style 4600 is made from recycled plastic bottles The F2200 is supplied as a complete package including consumables, warranty, servicing and support. imagesmag.uk/epson-f2200 The new Brother GTX600 Extra Colors has an extended colour gamut that includes orange and green The new Epson SureColor F2200 DTG printer Follow the links to the news stories online www.images-magazine.com
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 08 images JUNE 2023 PRINT SHOP POOCHES # 91 Bella Whether it’s pedigree pups or mangy mutts, decorators’ dogs are valued members of staff at embroidery and print shops from Barking to Furness. This month we have Bella from Embello in Tamworth Full name: Bella Breed: Cocker spaniel Age: One year old Time at company: Eight months Job title: Chief happiness officer Job description: Making people happy and causing mischief! Special skills: Having zoomies around the desks and running off with anything you leave on the floor. Favourite colour: Embello orange: #E96924. Because that’s the colour of our office, where she loves to have her zoomies! www.embello.co.uk Record numbers at first Print & Stitch roadshow of 2023 The Print & Stitch roadshow has returned, with the first event of 2023 attracting a record-breaking number of visitors. Taking place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Strathclyde in Glasgow in April, the show welcomed 115 visitors. Show organiser Emilia Hepple said: “Our roadshow is designed to bring products directly to our customers so that everyone in our industry can easily access a local show to keep up to date with the latest products and technology and receive expert advice directly from the suppliers.” Exhibitors in 2023 include Asquith, AWDis, Beechfield Brands, BTC Activewear, Craghoppers Expert, DecoNetwork, Fruit of the Loom, Henbury Brands, Madeira, PenCarrie, Premier, Pro RTX, Ralawise, Regatta Professional, Result, Ribbon Writer, Russell, Stocks, Stormtech, TheMagicTouch GB, Trotec and Wilcom. The next show is on 13 June at Newport, then Croydon on 15 June. To attend, register at www.printandstitch.org. imagesmag.uk/print-stitch-glasgow Sportswear firm supplies wheelchair tournament Tarw Sports – a new sister company to Carmarthenshire-based Print Inc – supplied branded clothing for the Wheelchair Rugby European Championship in May. As sponsor of the tournament, it provided all the workwear and commemorative clothing for the 50-strong team of officials, all the volunteers, the teams in a celebrity match and all competing nations, including Wales and England. The garments were produced by Tarw Sports, which was launched last year by entrepreneur Angela Windsor to offer a bespoke solution for branded sportswear for amateur sports teams and military teams. Based in Cross Hands, Tarw was set up to provide print and embroidery services; its name is the Welsh word for ‘bull’ to reflect the ‘bull-minded mindset’ of refusing to give up or give in. imagesmag.uk/tarw-wheelchair Supacolor seeks to build heat transfer education Bella practising her ‘I definitely broke nothing important during my zoomies’ face Visitors at Print & Stitch in Glasgow Welsh wheelchair rugby home uniforms manufactured by Tarw Sports Follow us on Twitter @imagesmaguk
WORKWEAR FOR THE SUMMER Stay smart this Summer with Craghoppers Expert Kiwi Shorts. With the same reliable quality and design of the Kiwi Trouser the short option provides a feature packed alternative for when the weather is warmer. The fabric offers EcoShield DWR and NosiDefence to help prevent biting insects. Boasting 9 pockets this is your go to short for your summer workwear wardrobe. Available from Ralawise, Pencarrie and Prestige Leisure. To view the full collection visit www.craghoppers.com/expert E X P E RT
INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 10 images JUNE 2023 Andrew Maylor has been promoted to managing director of embroidery supplies specialist Madeira UK, taking over from Karen Burrows, who has taken on new roles within the Madeira group. Andrew, who joined the company in 2017 as head of sales, took on his new role at the start of May. Karen, who has been managing director since 2001, has now become chairman of Madeira UK. She has also been appointed senior adviser to the board at Madeira Germany, continuing her focus on the strategic development of the global business. She will remain as sales director for northern Europe and as a non-executive board member at clothing industry trade body, the PCIAW. Karen originally joined the Madeira group in 1985 in purchasing and stock control, gradually moving into sales, marketing and business development. imagesmag.uk/madeira-maylor Charlotte Clarke has been appointed the new managing director of the UK arm of European workwear manufacturer Alsico. Currently serving as UK commercial director for the business, she will take over from current managing director David Toon, who is stepping into the role of chairman from 1 October. She has overseen the transformation of Alsico’s sales operation and has been responsible for driving sustainable business growth. She has more than 20 years of experience within the industry and held multiple senior positions at Alsico and at safety workwear supplier Arco. Charlotte said: “I look forward to combining my passion, commitment and experience in the sector to build upon the fantastic foundation delivered by our team and drive our strategic vision forward.” imagesmag.uk/alsico-clarke Print-ondemand and fulfilment company Printful has appointed Parsla Basko as its chief people officer. Parsla will be looking after the company’s teams around the world including the UK. With an extensive background in human resources and recruitment, she brings “significant experience in strategic talent management, effective employer branding and company culture development”. She joins Printful’s management team alongside Alex Saltonstall, who joined as CEO in October last year, and Adam Malpocher, who took over as chief financial officer in February this year. imagesmag.uk/printful-parsla Takaaki Hagiwara has been appointed as the new managing director of Oki Europe with the aim of strengthening its position in the professional printing technology market and also spearheading its growth in the EMEA and India regions. Takaaki, who has been with the white toner printer manufacturer since 1990, previously served as VP corporate planning Oki Europe, and was engaged in the transformation and administration of the business. In his new role as managing director, Takaaki’s focus will be on the continued development of solutions for verticals and new applications. imagesmag.uk/oki-hagiwara CHANGING FACES Madeira UK chairman Karen Burrows and managing director Andrew Maylor Banner backs book donation campaign Schoolwear supplier The Banner Group has announced the Banner Book Drive to make reading more accessible to underprivileged children. The company has formed a partnership with Children’s Book Project, a UK-based charity that redistributes new and gently used books to children and their families as well as schools. The Banner Group is encouraging staff across its business, as well as customers, to make a donation of any good-quality used books to the Children’s Book Project for gifting to children and schools. Announcing the new initiative, the manufacturer stated: “At the Banner Group it’s our mission to give every child the chance to shine. When we discovered that one in five disadvantaged children don’t own a book, we knew we needed to get the group involved.” To get involved with the Children’s Book Project and donate, visit childrensbookproject.co.uk/donate-books. imagesmag.uk/banner-books The Banner Group has launched the Banner Book Drive. [Credit: Andrea Piacquadio (Pexels)] Charlotte Clarke Parsla Basko Takaaki Hagiwara Follow us on Facebook: @imagesmaguk
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 14 images JUNE 2023 Clothing company Wawwa has come up with an innovative approach to creating decorated garments: add a dotted grid to the bag, T-shirt, cap, sweatshirt or hoodie and let the customer add their own magic using the embroidery thread and needle that comes included with the item. Called the Wawwa Worker’s Club, the new initiative aims “to bridge the gap between the brand and its customers, celebrating those who work, create, and experiment” by allowing customers to add their own personalisations. “We’re passionate about sewing and the skills that go with it, so giving an opportunity to share that in a simple way is exciting,” says the brand’s co-founder Sean Geaney. “With the Wawwa Worker’s Club, we’re thrilled to provide our customers with the chance to express themselves creatively on our garments, whilst celebrating their hard work and unique world views.” He adds: “At Wawwa, we believe that creating small batches of handcrafted garments and accessories is a way to showcase individuality, creativity, and a commitment to ethical manufacturing that minimises environmental impact, whilst encouraging sewing skills fosters a ‘DIY repair it all’ attitude, something the industry needs to reduce waste and lengthen a product’s life cycle.” www.wawwaclothing.com DECORATED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH Getting creative with the Wawwa Worker’s Club Stevenage Embroidery This pretty design was embroidered onto aprons by Stevenage Embroidery in Hertfordshire for the Garden Terrace Tea Room at Knebworth House. imagesmag.uk/Stevenage-Garden-Terrace DECORATOR REPORT Suppliers in the garment decoration sector are coming together for Headwear Live 2023 – the only UK event dedicated to hat heat printing. Organised by heat transfer specialist Target Transfers, it is aimed at showing the trade everything they need to know to design, decorate and sell branded hats. Taking place on Wednesday 28 June, it will feature hat and accessory supplier Beechfield Brands, wholesaler Ralawise and digital cutting specialist Graphtec GB. More guests are due to be announced soon. Visitors can attend either the morning slot or the afternoon slot. It is being held at Target Transfers’ Heat Printing Innovation Center in Braintree in Essex. Registration is open at custom. targettransfers.com/page/headwearlive. imagesmag.uk/headwear-live23 Suppliers to partner on Headwear Live hat printing event Headwear Live will cover all aspects of hat heat printing Read our full-length Decorator Reports online: www.images-magazine.com
Embroidery Threads & Consumables Embroidery Threads Sulky Rayon Polyester 40wt&60wt Cotton Metallics Poly Fire (fire retardant) Glow in the Dark Filaine Poly Flash & Sparkle Underthreads Needles Stabilisers & Backings Cut Away, Easy Tear & Iron On Stabilisers Filmoplast Solvy Solvy Fabric Stick Protect Thermofilm Thermofoil Adhesive Sprays Oil Pens Aboutus Established since1988,wehave developed an extensive knowledge of all aspects of the embroidery industry and are the UK suppliers of Gunold threads & supplies. Orderat: www.gs-ukdirect.com or contact: sales@gs-uk.com 0115 844 8000 www.gs-uk.com GS UK Limited 5 Crocus Street Nottingham NG23DE We are the UK suppliers of
INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 16 images JUNE 2023 View daily news updates at: www.images-magazine.com Nine in 10 small businesses check for sustainability credentials Nearly nine in 10 small businesses said they checked the sustainability credentials of companies before deciding to work with them, according to new research. Polling more than 1,000 small business leaders, Novuna Business Finance found that a focus on sustainability was becoming increasingly important, including scepticism of “bold” green claims. The survey revealed that 89% would check claims and 58% would actively seek out official certifications, accreditation and listings to ensure that an organisation was meeting certain sustainability standards. Around a third would check an organisation’s listing as a sustainable business on groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses. Jo Morris, head of marketing and insight at Novuna Business Finance, said: “What we see from this research is not only the desire to work with green suppliers and stakeholders as part of their day-to-day operations, but also the extent to which they are prepared to check any claims.” imagesmag.uk/novuna-greenwash Neutral wins best product award Clothing brand Neutral won the best overall new product award at this spring’s series of The Big Promotional Trade Show and The Big Wearables Trade Show. Exhibiting alongside other suppliers in the garment decoration sector, Neutral won for its Tiger Cotton range. The best stand award went to Regatta Professional. The organiser’s next event is the brand-new The Green & New Promo Show, which will focus on the many sustainable and new products released into the promotions and wearables marketplace this year. More than 50 industry suppliers and brands will be taking part, with the first show taking place at DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree on 7 June, before moving to Leeds United AFC on 13 June. Registration is open at greenandnew2023.eventreference. com/visitor. imagesmag.uk/big-tiger-cotton imagesmag.uk/green-promo23 Print Pro UK This fantastic design was printed onto T-shirts by Print Pro UK in Newport for St Joseph’s Amateur Boxing Club. imagesmag.uk/Print-Pro-Josephs DECORATOR REPORT Small business owners check green claims. Credit: Sarah Chai (Pexels) Fiery releases new version of Digital Factory RIP Fiery has released a new version of Digital Factory, its RIP software for print applications including direct-to-film (DTF), directto-garment (DTG) and sublimation. The newly released Digital Factory version 11 includes unique, patent-pending white ink management technology. John Henze, vice president of sales and marketing at Fiery, said the features included in Digital Factory v11 were specifically developed based on feedback from key stakeholders including manufacturers, dealers and customers. “For example, the single pass highlight white/underbase feature is truly revolutionary when printing with white inks and the new automation as well as ecommerce-related features enable users to achieve their business objectives by providing the tools needed for high-quality, high-volume production, all using a single software platform.” imagesmag.uk/digital-factory-v11 Show organiser Gerry Thomas presents the best new product award to Tracy Richards from Neutral UK Digital Factory version 11
www.images-magazine.com 18 images JUNE 2023 INDUSTRY NEWS Stay in the picture with our Instagram feed: @imagesmaguk Better Cotton updates principles and criteria Sustainability initiative Better Cotton has updated its principles and criteria as it continues to seek new ways to measure traceability. It has revised its principles covering management, natural resources, crop protection, fibre quality, decent work and smallholder livelihoods as well as cross-cutting priorities of gender equality and climate change. In practice, the revised principles and criteria will embrace a farmer-centric approach and serve as a more locally relevant standard that addresses the environmental, social and economic matters most pertinent to cotton production today. They have been reframed to plug key gaps and remove duplicative requirements, learning from previous versions and the experiences of users. Better Cotton is also continuing to determine the best ways to boost transparency across cotton supply chains. Its latest initiative is a new pilot using traceability technologies from Retraced, TextileGenesis, Haelixa and Tailorlux in India. imagesmag.uk/cotton-criteria RA Vinyl Designs This brilliant design was embroidered onto workwear by RA Vinyl Designs in Whitby, North Yorkshire, for Fetch Dog Services. imagesmag.uk/RA-Vinyl-Fetch DECORATOR REPORT Pro-Ad hails success of returning merchandise show More than 1,000 products were showcased for buyers of workwear and promotional and corporate clothing with the return of the Pro-Ad Merchandising Expo. Taking place for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the event featured 30 stands from suppliers of garments and other products for branding and promotional use. Held in March at Kingston Park Stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, it was hailed a success after 450 product enquiries on the day and 20 direct orders placed within a week of the show. Production experts and corporate clothing and workwear specialists shared the latest garments and clothing accessories, demonstrating branding techniques to help marketers explore the different ways of branding and personalisation. imagesmag.uk/proad-expo23 Pro-Ad Merchandising Expo in Newcastle upon Tyne Better Cotton-licensed cotton farming in Pakistan Kingly shortlisted for international green company award Promotional textile specialist Kingly was shortlisted recently for ‘Green company of the year’ in the BizX Awards for companies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Held as part of April’s BizX 2023 event for business leaders at Excel London, the awards celebrated the achievements of winners and shortlisted companies. High profile speakers included Lord Coe, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Mary Portas. Kingly, which operates across Europe including the UK, was recognised because of its commitment to sustainability and its mission to minimise the negative impact of the garment and textile industry – initiatives include its zero-waste sock knitting facility and its upcycled socks. imagesmag.uk/kingly-green Chris Churchman of Action Coach (left) with Kingly CEO Rob Armour
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 20 images JUNE 2023 New technology produces pretreated T-shirt New technology launched in the US allows for the production of pretreated garments that are ready to print. Hanes Branded Printwear has unveiled the Hanes Perfect Pre-treat Tee, manufactured with its new PrintNow technology for use in direct-togarment (DTG) digital printing. The T-shirt comes ready to print anywhere on the garment – front, back, neck and sleeves – with no need for pretreatment. Hanes estimates it will cut DTG production time by around 40%. While there are no plans to distribute garments featuring PrintNow technology in the UK, RTP Apparel’s ready-to-print T-shirts, which also require no pretreatment, are distributed in the UK by Sol’s after the product’s launch in 2016. imagesmag.uk/hanes-pretreat Want to know what your industry colleagues really think of the garments and accessories they decorate? Each issue, one reader tells us why they rate a particular product Mark Speakman, UK and Europe sales and business development director at 1WorldPrint, says his favourite products to decorate are the EarthPositive Unisex Jersey T-Shirt (EP100) and the EarthPositive Classic Shopper Tote Bag (EP70) from Continental Clothing. “We love to print on higher end garments, such as the EP100, as we feel the fabric allows for a better print and end result,” explains Mark. “We do a lot of printing for the music industry, and the last few years has seen them move away from the cheapest garment out there to a more high-end product, as music fans are now looking for quality and garments that last!” Both the T-shirt and tote bag are available in a great range of colours, adds Mark. “We’ve recently printed all the merchandise for Sam Ryder’s sold-out tour — they used the EP70 in natural and for their tour tee, the EP100 in stone wash black.” When printing on the EP100, Mark’s tip is to apply the base layer with gentle pressure, and not force it onto the T-shirt. “Just print on the top to give the base a nice smooth and bright layer, and don’t under or over flash it. If you follow this one simple step, the garment will look amazing, regardless of how many colours are printed on top!” imagesmag.uk/jun23-readers-choice www.1worldprint.co.uk READERS’ CHOICE Find our digital editions online: imagesmag.uk/digital-issues Artwork printed onto the new Hanes Perfect Pre-treat Tee 1WorldPrint printed Continental Clothing’s EP100 tees and EP70 tote bags as tour merch for Sam Ryder ColorGate introduces version 23 of Productionserver ColorGate unveiled the latest version of its Productionserver software for colour management, RIP and print data generation at this year’s Fespa Global Print Expo. The new ColorGate Productionserver 23 family of solutions for garment and digital printing promises new possibilities for automated colour correction. Highlights of the new version include improvements to the user interface, making it easier for users to work with ColorGate software and for new customers starting out with it. ColorGate’s Fingerprint technology allows for digital samples to be created from raster data and also from PDF files. imagesmag.uk/colorgate-v23
INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com Avery Dennison to grow decoration services with takeover Avery Dennison is growing its presence in the garment customisation sector by acquiring a designer and manufacturer of embroidered patches, heat transfers and other embellishments. It announced in April that it had signed a definitive agreement to buy Lion Brothers, which is based in the US and has sites in Hong Kong and China. It has 450 employees and reported revenues of around $65 million (£52 million) in 2022. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023 when Lion Brothers will become part of the Apparel Solutions business within the Solutions Group of Avery Dennison, a specialist in materials science and manufacturing. The purchase will “significantly” expand Embelex, Avery Dennison’s full-service, end-to-end portfolio for on-product branding, graphics and trims. imagesmag.uk/avery-lion Inky Cow Screen Print Co. These paw-some bags were screen printed by Inky Cow Screen Print Co. in Burgess Hill for local dog grooming company The Paw Revolution. imagesmag.uk/Inky-Cow-Paw DECORATOR REPORT Gildan spotlights supply chain for Fashion Revolution Week Garment manufacturer Gildan supported this year’s Fashion Revolution Week by highlighting people at every stage of its supply chain. Through social media activity and a new video, it spotlighted the people behind its yarn-spinning, textile and dyeing operations as well as those who sew and distribute the final product. Since 2013, Fashion Revolution has called on everyone to demand greater transparency from brands by asking #WhoMadeMyClothes? This year, it is asking a second question as well: #WhoMadeMyFabric? Founded in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, Fashion Revolution has grown to become the world’s largest fashion activism movement, mobilising citizens, brands and policymakers through research, education and advocacy. imagesmag.uk/gildan-revolution An embroidered emblem from Lion Brothers Arco launches ‘responsible’ workwear range Safety and workwear specialist Arco has launched a new range of workwear that is ethically sourced and produced with a fully traceable supply chain. The new “responsible” garments are made with durable fabric and reinforced features to increase the longevity of clothing that has been created for use in tough working conditions. The range has been developed with responsible clothing manufacturer Lyfcycle, with a unique QR code on each garment that allows users to trace its journey through the supply chain with the use of an app. All garments are made from Global Recycled Standard-certified recycled polyester as well as with Better Cottoncertified cotton. Headquartered in Hull, Arco has a national network of safety centres and stores, and provides decorating services. imagesmag.uk/arco-responsible Arco’s new ‘responsible’ workwear 22 images JUNE 2023 Gildan supports Fashion Revolution Week Check out our Instagram Stories for the latest industry news @imagesmaguk
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 24 images JUNE 2023 Newsletter to aid garment decorators using AI images Atkinson Consulting is launching a newsletter to support garment decorators using the Midjourney artificial intelligence platform that turns text into images. The weekly Midjourney Print Creativity Newsletter aims to share ideas, Midjourney prompts, practical applications, how-to tips and resources with its readers. The focus is on providing tips and inspiration for creating stunning printed products using the images created on Midjourney for those who want to “take their print game to the next level”. Based in San Francisco, Midjourney was launched last year using AI to generate images created through textual descriptions. imagesmag.uk/marshall-midjourney Midjourney-generated image of ‘the elephant in the room’ Merchr gains ethical charter New print-on-demand platform Merchr has been recognised for its responsible business practices with accreditation under the Good Business Charter. It was awarded the certification after meeting criteria set by the Good Business Foundation, an independent not-for-profit organisation that launched the charter in 2020. Merchr satisfied 10 components: paying the real living wage, fairer hours and contracts, employee wellbeing and representation, diversity and inclusion, environmental responsibility, paying fair tax, commitment to customers, ethical sourcing and prompt payment. The business, which was launched earlier this year, has its offices and production facility in Middleton, Greater Manchester, and a marketing and development team in Elstree, Hertfordshire. Sarah O’Donovan, brand and marketing coordinator, said the company supported and encouraged employee wellbeing by providing flexible working arrangements, training and development programmes, and an inclusive culture. imagesmag.uk/merchr-charter [L-R] Merchr head of operations Jack Fox and brand and marketing coordinator Sarah O’Donovan Companies warned over misleading organic claims People are turning their backs on clothing brands that are intentionally misleading them about the organic content of their products, according to a new poll. In the survey of 2,000 people across the UK, two thirds (70%) said that if they found out a brand was falsely claiming their products were organic, they would be less likely to purchase that brand in the future. The poll, run as part of Organic Textile Week ( 15-21 May), revealed that 59% were “angry” or “disgusted” to find that some clothing brands claiming to be organic may actually contain hazardous synthetic pesticides and other chemicals. It was important for almost three in five people (57%) that the clothes and textiles they bought were genuinely sustainable. Consumers were not interested in buying from companies who engage in greenwashing – making false or misleading claims to exaggerate their sustainability efforts. Over half (56%) did not know how to recognise whether or not an item of clothing or textiles were certified organic or not, such as looking to see if it had a Gots (Global Organic Textile Standard) logo. The first UK Organic Textile Week was launched by Organic UK, the Organic Trade Board (OTB), in partnership with Gots with the goal of raising awareness and educating consumers. imagesmag.uk/organic-week Textile manufacturing with organic cotton in Tanzania. [Credit: Gots] Pride Of Place This vibrant logo was embroidered onto workwear by Pride Of Place in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, for SW Gardens imagesmag.uk/Pride-Place-SW DECORATOR REPORT Find us on social media: @imagesmaguk
INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 26 images JUNE 2023 Wild Thang opens warehouse after £2m development Wild Thang, the branded clothing and merchandise specialist, has launched its new warehouse after a £2 million development of the business. The opening marked the culmination of a four-year project to create a world-class headquarters and manufacturing hub for the business at its base in Liverpool. It celebrated the launch with an event, the Wild Thang Expo, inviting customers to tour the new facility in Bootle, including a chance to see clothing and other products on show from 14 trade suppliers. Managing director Andrew Dwerryhouse and commercial sales director Sarah Howarth gave a presentation on the company’s £2 million development journey. They also provided detail on the company’s new sustainability pledge, launched at the Good Small Business Awards in March, committing itself to becoming net zero by 2030. imagesmag.uk/wildthangwarehouse Wild Thang’s new headquarters and manufacturing hub Gildan predicts growth despite dip Gildan Activewear has confirmed its expectation of growth in 2023 despite an “uncertain” economic environment and a dip in firstquarter sales. It reported that net sales for the three months to 2 April were $703 million (£560 million), down $72 million (£57 million) and 9% year on year, in line with expectations. In activewear including blank garments, sales were down 12% to $588 million (£467.8 million). The company said this reflected “anticipated headwinds tied to the current demand environment and to strong comparative periods in the first half of 2022”. Its predictions for 2023 include fullyear revenue growth in the low singledigit range and full-year adjusted operating margin landing within the company’s 18% to 20% annual target range. imagesmag.uk/gildan-first23 Materials and content for the Screen Print Mastery training programme Gildan predicts full-year revenue growth Dalesway launches online training programme for screen printers Equipment supplier Dalesway Print Technology has launched a comprehensive online training programme for screen printers and small business owners. Called Screen Print Mastery, it consists of easy-to-follow modules covering screen printing techniques and processes as well as practical advice on managing and growing a screen printing business and marketing. The Technical Mastery part of the programme provides a quick-start method to get to the first printed shirt as quickly as possible. A troubleshooting section and in-depth technical knowhow on every aspect of the production process also ensure that students truly grasp the ‘why’ and not just the ‘how’. Zuzette Stocking, the founder of Screen Print Mastery, said: “Screen printing can be a challenging and competitive industry but, with the right skills and knowledge, anyone can succeed.” imagesmag.uk/screen-mastery Stahls’ to triple size of Hotronix heat press factory Heat transfer specialist Stahls’ International is tripling the size of its manufacturing facilities in the US to keep up with increasing demand for its Hotronix heat presses. It is in the final stages of expanding its state-of-the-art facility in Carmichaels in Pennsylvania with an additional 3,250 sqm of manufacturing and finishing space. This will bring its total manufacturing and warehouse space up to around 9,300 sqm – three times the manufacturing capacity that the company had a year ago. Stahls’ International is part of GroupeStahl, which also includes UK supplier Target Transfers. imagesmag.uk/hotronix-factory Work is progressing on Stahls’ Hotronix factory in Pennsylvania Check out our videos on Vimeo: @imagesmaguk
www.images-magazine.com JUNE 2023 images 27 AD ADVERTORIAL As the former responsible sourcing and commercial ESG (environmental, social and governance) director for British retail powerhouse Asos, Simon Platts understands the growing call for more responsible apparel. Now an industry consultant who supports retailers, educators and the fashion industry at large, he knows that meeting that imperative requires not introducing more costly materials and restrictions on traditional production processes, but rather eliminating inefficiencies and waste that have long been accepted. In other words, if you leverage state-of-the-art digital supply chains to address the limitations of forecast-based production and offshore fulfilment models, the eco benefits are a natural by-product of those efforts. “The apparel industry can be very inefficient,” says Simon. “Up to 60% of the cost price of a garment can be the fabric alone, but it doesn’t matter what you’re paying if nobody is buying it. We need to be smarter at the front end to be more profitable at the back end.” A more conscientious legacy According to Simon, it’s critical for brands to acknowledge that consumers want the latest styles while also knowing they’re not contributing to ecological harm globally – they are increasingly choosing to build a more conscientious legacy for future generations. Part of this commitment involves recognising that far-flung supply chains are no longer suited to the needs of this moment. Overseas transport and large-scale inventory warehousing aren’t cheap, while today’s web-based, highlypersonalised commerce experiences demand a reactivity, speed, and agility that only digital on-demand fulfilment models can satisfy. “We have massive shopping malls, but people want boutique-type products and service,” he says, addressing the public’s growing appetite for more tailored customer experiences and product possibilities. “Digital print gives manufacturers a reactivity that’s necessary when everything’s getting quicker, and pairing that capability with nearshore operations helps them stay relevant.” Opportunities for growth While relevance is certainly key to surviving the so-called ‘retail apocalypse’ wrought by ecommerce, Simon sees digital on-demand production as not merely enabling resilience, but unlocking opportunities for growth, as well. “If the industry wasn’t under so much financial pressure right now, it would see this is the way to thrive,” he says. “With technologies like Kornit, you’re increasing efficiency and thus net profit. When you can personalise, you’re seeing fewer returns. You don’t need to store unsold merchandise in a warehouse, and you’re not worried about markdowns.” Between public sentiment and the increasing presence of environmental regulations asserting the turn to sustainability – initiatives marked by digital passports, ESG guidelines, blockchain, and other developments – Simon believes the window for manufacturers and retailers to understand, act and leverage true moves towards being more sustainable will open brands up to a competitive advantage. “Now is the time to make sustainability part of your brand’s DNA, before the industry emerges in a better place, with laggards inevitably being weeded out,” he advises. Kornit UK Live As the world’s leading developer of digital solutions for sustainable ondemand fashion and textile fulfilment, Kornit Digital is empowering this industry with the end-to-end production capabilities, business strategies, and accountability to meet these challenges and thrive in the face of economic uncertainty and disruption. Kornit invites you to its UK Live on Wednesday 21 June to learn how businesses like yours can remove excess inventory from your supply chain. Simon Platts brings his perspectives on sustainable nearshore and onshore production strategies, Kornit’s Scott Walton and Phil Oakley will discuss capitalising on new market and cultural trends with transformational digital experiences, and Adam Golder and Simon Calvert from T-Shirt & Sons will share their real-world experiences of building an efficient, agile and resilient fulfilment operation with Kornit’s versatile production capabilities. Network with industry peers, learn about winning production models from those who’ve done it, get hands-on with Kornit systems and apparel samples, and have your questions answered by the professionals and visionaries enabling businesses like yours to capitalise on the possibilities of a digital supply chain. Asos veteran Simon Platts discusses how decorators can eliminate inefficiencies in production ahead of the expert-packed Kornit UK Live event later this month Making sustainability your brand – A digital supply chain for agility and growth – ADVERTORIAL – Reserve your seat today at Kornit UK Live on 21 June by scanning the QR code [above] or registering at imagesmag.uk/Kornit-UK-Live Simon Platts Scan this QR code to book your place at Kornit UK Live
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