Product Hub March 18, 2016
Styles from the Epson Digital Couture Project
To celebrate new developments in its dye sublimation technology, particularly its new High Density Black ink, Epson America Inc. hosted its second annual Digital Couture Project the evening before the official start of New York Fashion Week. Bringing together 11 designers from the United States and Latin America, the show, held in the trendy Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, showcased complete fashion looks all printed on Epson dye sublimation machines.
Epson first launched its line of dye sublimation machines in 2013. Since then, they’ve taken heed of customer feedback and made marked improvements to the technology, most notably with its proprietary High Density Black ink that offers deep saturation.
The designers featured at the 2016 event were tasked with putting together complete dye sublimated looks that followed the theme of “Harmony & Peace through Fashion.” A jury made up of Epson representatives and fashion professionals chose the final 11 designers who would bring their work to the Big Apple.
Check out a few of the looks featured at the Epson Digital Couture Project:
Chilean designer Matias Hernan presented these colorful ensembles, complete with dye sublimated platform boots. “Dye sublimation allows us to work with color, shape and texture in a sensational way,” he said in a statement to Epson. “It’s like working without limits.”
Los Angeles-based designer Chloe Trujillo creates vibrant, crisp, colorful artwork, so she was thrilled that Epson’s technology could print her existing art on garments. “You can see the brushstrokes,” she says. “Sublimation is going to mean huge progress for fashion in general.”
Brooklyn-based designer Cristina Ruales is celebrating the second season of her ready-to-wear contemporary women’s line. “With dye sublimation, there are no color limits,” she says, “and it keeps my work within a certain price point.”
Fabrizzio Berrocal, from Costa Rica, is the founder of garment studio Heredia, and the creator of Leonora, a men’s apparel brand. “Dye sublimation allows you to create textiles not available on the market,” he said in a statement to Epson, adding that there’s no variation in color between the design and the final print.
Colombian Felipe Santamaria Luque says his collection, “A Tribute to Colombia,” reflects his country’s hope for peace: “There’s a floral exuberance that’s captive among metal chains, but then the chains gently disappear, emphasizing hope and diversity.”
Mexican design duo Maria de Lourdes Ramirez and Isabel Navarro Landa, founders of Kaleidoscopic, displayed their “Floral Scope” swimwear that “combines classic, vintage and modern designs, with floral details and artistic and technical elements based on painting.”
Veteran Miami-based designer Danny Santiago used his iPhone to take photos of a live flamingo, an orchid and a Florida building façade (shown here). He sent all three images to Epson, which then created the prints and prepared them to be constructed into garments.
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