Digital processes have long been a part of our everyday lives. In textile printing, however, this development is not seen as a loss of the analog, but rather as an expansion of creative possibilities. Just a few decades ago, this would have been almost unimaginable. The garish prints of the 1970s and 1980s were long considered overdone before grunge and later minimalism dominated fashion. It wasn't until the late 2000s that photorealistic prints experienced a remarkable comeback.

A defining role in this development was played by designer Mary Katrantzou, who set new standards with her digital textile prints. Her work demonstrated that prints can be not only decorative, but also narrative, precise, and technically sophisticated. Since then, digital prints have become an indispensable part of the fashion world.

The history of fabric printing stretches far back. Textile printing processes can be traced back to the 6th century. In Europe, fabric printing experienced a significant development in the 19th century with the advent of textile printing, following the earlier use of hand-carved wooden blocks and later rollers. Even older is the indigo or resist printing technique originating in India, in which patterns are created by selectively leaving out color – a principle also found in batik techniques.

A significant milestone in industrial textile printing is screen printing. Whether flatbed or roll screen printing, designs were transferred to fabric using stencils, ink, and squeegees. Many iconic statements, slogans, and graphic prints originated here. At the same time, the desire for individuality has always been closely linked to the development of textile printing.

Since the 1990s, intensive research has been conducted into digital printing processes. The goal was to transfer designs directly and in great detail onto fabrics without stencils. Today, digital printing techniques enable a virtually unlimited range of colors, high precision, and flexible image sizes – across almost the entire width of the fabric. This opens up new possibilities for both experimental designs and meticulously planned projects.

Another advantage lies in the production process itself. Modern digital textile printing systems work quickly, efficiently, and increasingly with water-based ink systems. This allows for high-quality prints without unnecessarily burdening the environment – ​​provided that raw materials and processes are appropriately certified.