Fit to print

Epson America Inc., Long Beach, Calif., revealed the creative potential of its SureColor® F-Series dye-sublimation printing solutions at the Epson Digital Couture event in New York City on Feb. 9. In its second year, the event showcases clothing collections fabricated by 11 North and Latin American designers using Epson print technology. The designers unveil their colorful artistry on the runway in advance of Fashion Week, at an event attended by the fashion industry, celebrities, socialites and the press.

The theme of this year’s event was “Harmony and Peace through Fashion,” but might as well have been “Color and Pattern Made Real through Printing.” The direct-to-fabric dye sublimation process makes the most of intense or subtle color choices and complicated fabric patterns, and the designers reveled in the options. Felipe Santamaría Luque, a Colombian designer with his own brand, LENERD, found inspiration for his “Cautiva” collection in Colombia’s national flag. Compelling patterns in intense red and blue with gold accents mark his elegant, flowing designs. María de Lourdes Ramírez and Isabel Navarro Landa from Mexico unveiled their first collection, “Kaleidoscopic,” with beachwear resembling wearable watercolor paintings on pale canvas. Agostina Orlandi represented Ossira, an Argentinan label, with comfortable, casual apparel in subtle and muted color combinations.

Following its New York debut, the Epson Digital Couture event moved on to the Graphics of the Americas (GOA) annual conference. “While wearable technology is hot, it is … more about utility and function,” says James Martin, GOA president. “Epson puts a spin on that by using digital technology to create unique, one-of-a-kind designs in a fraction of the time conventional garment manufacturing takes.”