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MARCH 3, 2014
FURNITURETODAY.COM
FABRICEssentials
BY CINDY W. HODNETT
DIGITAL PRINTING ADVANCES FABRIC
Costumes by Nicolette Mayer is a whimsical interpretation of historic fashion.
HIGH POINT — Technological advances in the fabric industry are a combination of form and function. On the function side, modern equipment like embroidery or quilting machines offer mass-produced craftsmanship that rivals the product once produced only after a significant time investment. And on the form side, designers use texture, color and pattern to invent upholstery “inspiration” that will add excitement to retail floors. Over the past decade, one of the most promising technological breakthroughs in the textile arena has been the development of and advancements made in digital printing. A process that proponents say offers an unlimited color palette, no repeat size limitations and endless design possibilities, digital printing is bringing a new look to the fabric industry and the expectation is that it will continue to grow in popularity as companies discover the cost savings and flexibility of the technique. “The Nicolette Mayer collection is the first digitally printed, converted print product in the industry,” said Jonathan Ostrow, co-CEO at Nicolette Mayer. “The only way for this level of color and design to be put out to the industry is by what we’re doing. It’s impossible to reproduce the collection any other way. “The technology and design play together hand-in-hand,” Ostrow said. “We are 100% digitally printed and 100% vertically converted, and we’re breaking new ground. We’re producing 100 new
designs and approximately 500 new SKUs every year, and there is growing demand for this product. I’ve been pioneering this technology for six years, and in the past 24 months, digital printing has gone from being cursed about to becoming something everyone wants.” Mayer, designer and co-CEO for the company, said that digitally printed fabrics improve the speed with which upholstery suppliers can bring product to market. Additionally, digital printing supports the consumer’s desire for customization. “There is an ever-growing demand for niche products by consumers,” Mayer said. “They want things that are unique to them, and this technology allows our customers and their consumers to interpret their ideas into their product.” Mayer underscores the capabilities of digital printing with reference to a favorite fashionista product. “The colors we can produce are like those in a Hermes scarf,” she said. “There are something like 70 screens in one of those scarves, and before now, the ability to get that same rich level of color was unaffordable. That is no longer the case.” Camilla Franklin of Blissett Textile said the affordability factor will help drive the digitally printed textile market in the future. “As the production speeds increase for digital printing, it becomes much more attractive cost wise,” Franklin said. “The color chemistry has improved leaps and
bounds since I first started using digital textile printers. The downtime is minimal and color change is possible without stopping some production machines. “With digital, one can print on demand, which means one could lower inventory levels and move away from imports in certain cases,” adds Franklin. “There are no repeat size limitations and no color limitations, and one can utilize photographic imagery in the designs.” According to Mayer, many of the concerns about digital printing like colorfastness, speed and cost, have been eliminated as the technology has evolved. However, she adds that the role of the designer remains crucial to the process. “The thing about working digitally is that a lot of people approach it with a sense of realism,” Mayer said. “But subtlety and refinement need to be considered to create a good product. You have to know when to pull back. Just as in fashion, there is a lot of bad work. It’s about best practices — you utilize the technology and always have the design be the first priority.”
Nicolette Mayer and Jonathan Ostrow.
Top: Blossom Time is one of Blissett Textile’s digitally printed fabrics.
Mayer’s Jardin fabric is reminiscent of Monet pastels. SPONSORED BY
This sofa is shown in Ceramic Menagerie from the Nicolette Mayer Collection.
Bottom:The lack of color limitations allow designers to create affordable, vibrant fabrics like Hope Springs from Blissett Textile.