Sustainable Printing Techniques in Fashion Design
Sustainability is a way of life right now. From the business and consumer point of view, it’s surely become a major buzzword. The fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution in our country. Dyeing and finishing products are heavily responsible for water pollution. With consumers becoming more eco-conscious, the need of the hour today is for the fashion industry to embrace eco-friendly alternatives.
Sustainable printing is surely a promising solution to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry along with promoting greener practices.
It’s important for fashion businesses to proactively embrace these trends if they want to remain competitive.
Innovative & Sustainable Textile Printing Techniques
Digital Printing
Digital printing is a modern printing method. It involves printing the design directly onto the garment using a printer. It is also referred to as direct to garment (DTG) printing. In this technique, water-based inks are directly transferred to the fabric. Compared to traditional screen printing, there is no excessive wastage of water and chemicals. The ink is applied to the fabric using a computer-controlled system. There is no need for stencils either. Digital printing is ideal for garments that utilises many colours as subtle variations and intricate details can be achieved with ease. Also, the best part of digital printing is that it can fulfil large orders in a short span.
Sublimation Printing
In sublimation printing, heat and pressure are used to transfer a dye directly onto the fabric. However, in this case, the fabric used is polyester. This method uses absolutely no water as the dye penetrates the fabric fibres. This process produces high-quality, durable, and detailed prints and designs. The waste generated in this method is minimal too and no post-treatment chemicals are used. Sublimation printing is surely an eco-friendlier alternative to traditional methods. The only drawback is that it works better with synthetic fabrics and light-coloured garments. Textile manufacturers are aware of its limitations.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is a traditional printing technique. However, by using eco-friendly inks, this process becomes more sustainable. It also minimises the use of harmful chemicals and creation of waste. This method has been used for centuries. It’s coming back into the limelight now as water-based dyes and inks are replacing chemicals. In this method, ink is pushed through a stencil and then applied to a garment using a screen. It’s ideal if large quantities of garments have to be printed. From simple to complex designs, screen printing has multiple use-cases. A few benefits of screen printing include its non-toxicity for humans and the environment, no chemical additives, and its high-durability. Water-based and soy inks replace plastisol inks which are harmful and contain harmful chemicals. Instead of disposable screens, mesh screens are used. These can be reused after cleaning to reduce waste.
Discharge Printing
A lot of people confuse discharge printing with bleaching. However, they are quite different from each other. In this process, the dye is removed from the fabric to create a lighter design. The result is a soft-vintage look. Compared to traditional methods, fewer dyes are used and minimal water. However, the method is not entirely sustainable. It can be referred to as a semi-sustainable printing technique. The discharge agents can cause potential environmental harm. Very few textile and fabric manufacturers are utilising this technique at the moment.
Block Printing
Unlike other innovative printing techniques that rely on technology, this method relies on manpower. Thus, it is labour-intensive. It’s been around for quite some time now and is a traditional handcraft technique. Wooden and metal blocks are used to print patterns on fabric. The best part is that natural and non-toxic dyes are used in the process. With minimal resources, a sustainable garment can be manufactured. The benefits of block printing include zero use of machinery, no environmental impact and the use of natural dyes.
Laser Printing
Laser printing uses high-powered lasers to transfer designs directly onto the fabric. It reduces the need for inks or dyes altogether. Laser printing is mainly used on synthetic materials like polyester. It can create highly intricate designs and eliminates chemical use. It also minimises water and waste production. In laser printing, no ink or dyes are used.
Conclusion
Sustainable printing for textiles and garments is not merely a trend. It is here to stay and become an essential step towards preserving our planet for future generations. A printing method is considered sustainable when eco-friendly inks are used, minimal to no waste is generated and energy-efficient production processes are used.
Our BSc. in Fashion and Apparel Design course emphasises on all sustainable printing methods. We want our future designers to be well-versed with the new-age printing techniques.
