Eco-Friendly Inks and Printing

Nick Morley is a co-founder of Faering Ltd, which prints digitally on natural fibre garments and fabrics and is capable of made-on-demand and ultra-low MOQ supply. He also has extensive experience as a sustainability researcher and consultant in this industry, mainly in the area of textile recycling and sustainable materials. He is chair of the Programme Board of Mistra Future Fashion, the world’s largest research programme in sustainable fashion funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research.

Frustrated by how difficult it was to print onto sustainable cloth, James Edmonson set about solving the problem himself. He bought a printer, sourced organic cotton and began to offer a print bureau service - and so, Fabrica Textiles was born. Today, Fabrica Textiles advises clients on all aspects of digital printing and manage their print flow. With his expertise combining both the world of print and sustainability, James was the perfect guest expert for this session.

A bitesize 15 minute Lesson that address eco-friendly printing methods. I Dress Myself was established in 2006 in Nottingham UK, and moved over to eco-friendly water-based inks within the first year. They have expanded services to include digital garment printing for one-offs, small print runs and full-colour printing, along with eco embroidery that uses a GOTS-certified FSC viscose thread. They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the world of eco-friendly screen printing, and here we learn about considerations you should make when assessing the surface design of your textile products.

Beki Gowing is a printed textile designer, and founder of the creative studio Print & Press London. An ex-John Lewis buyer, Beki has a keen understanding of business, and what it takes for brands to be successful. We couldn't have asked for a better insight into the best way to work with digital printers so that you can ensure a smooth production run.

We're delighted to present this ethical printing and dyeing matrix to help your printed and dyed creations come to life, with minimal impact on the planet and the people involved in all stages of the process. For even more information, go to the Eco-Friendly Inks and Printing and Mastering Dyes and Finishes Masterclasses for a more in-depth look at printing.

The apparel industry alone accounts for 6.7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with more than 50% attributed to three phases: 15% to fibre production, 28% to yarn preparation, and the highest, a staggering 36% associated to dyeing, printing and finishing. Like any industrial process, textile printing requires raw materials, consumes energy and produces waste.

Paige Bolahood is owner and founder of Bare Beach, a swimwear company passionate about getting rid of one-time-use plastics. Their swimsuits are made from “Repreve” - recycled polyester derived from plastic bottles. The products are entirely produced (including the bottle recycling) in North America. I was keen to hear from Paige about working with this exclusive fabric, the pros and cons of the printing process, and the highs and lows of her business so far.

One of the main methods of printing onto fabric for the fashion industry is digital, in which a design is finalised by computer before being applied to the fabric's surface. This lesson teaches the basic concepts of digital printing and its pros and cons, so whether you are a complete beginner, or just in need of a little refresher course, this bitesize lesson is sure to take you through everything you need to know to get going. 

The other primary method of printing onto fabric is screen printing. In this lesson, textile print designer, Christine Teeling, introduces the basic concepts of screen printing.