Author | Christiane Nickel
Photos courtesy of BFA NYC
Ignited in a vista of color, saturation knew no limits at Epson’s “Digital Couture” fashion presentation in part of the Epson SureColor F Series. From smoldering yellows, biting satsumas, and a velvety abyss of deep eggplants, kaleidoscopic would be a rather conservative word choice for this fashion exhibition. The show debuted the collections from 11 South and North American designers for Epson’s fashion meets technology series. Each designer was commissioned to envision and execute a collection using Epson’s digital dye sublimation technology, a relatively new type of printer allowing designers to alter designs with a one-stop printing and design process. Quick, efficient and an affordable way to make color selections, the chosen designers were able to tweak intricate design details to print deep, vivid colors with just the click of a mouse. I had the opportunity to chat with a few designers and movers and shakers of this revolutionary textile printing technique…
Company: Epson, Catalina Frank, Product Manager
Country: United States
What was your initiative for this project?
Principally, our goal is to introduce and cultivate new technologies to fashion and thus fashion week is the ideal platform. Since this already exists in North America we wanted to bring it to South/Latin America and attain more brand recognition in those countries. One of the challenges was teaching a technique to (designers) who have never used it before. Through education and cultivation of this product we want to show the world that Epson is just as much a part of the fashion industry as anyone else.
Designer: Dual
Country: Costa Rica
What was the inspiration for this collection?
This collection was largely inspired by the colors and bio diversity of Costa Rica and Columbian symbols.
What was the advantage of using the sublimation process?
Well, firstly we don’t have this technique in Costa Rica so this was an entirely new design process and experience for us. Secondly, there are always financial risks you take to execute a textile design because it may not turn out the way you like especially if you are looking for a specific color. But, with the sublimation process there are no limitations to color.
Designer: Leonor Silva
Country: United States/Venezuela
What was particularly unique about being involved in this show?
Well, it’s largely based on the future of fashion and radically different from textile printing techniques and traditions of today.
How did using the sublimation process affect your creations?
Usually when I design clothes I am solely dependent on the textile to dictate how I should cut, drape and create my patterns, but since I was creating the textile motif, I had full reign of playing around with different silhouettes.
What were some of the patterns you created?
I wanted to play with the idea of lace and plaids layered over another.
