Dave Ocampo from AFDS Philippines shines at the Epson Runway Show with his collection.
Epson joined hands with the ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase (AFDS) for the first time to host the ASEAN International Fashion Week (AIFW) at the iconic ArtScience Museum in Singapore.
The annual fashion event aims to showcase and celebrate the unique style and diversity in the ASEAN region. This year, Epson and AFDS also leveraged the platform to raise awareness on environmentally conscious textile printing. More than 850 attendees, including members of the public, designers, and industry partners, attended the event.
Collection designed by Terry Yeo, AFDS Singapore, showcased at Epson Runway Show.
Partnering with 11 designers from AFDS, the Epson Runway Show showcased the reality of sustainable fashion through Epson's digital textile printing technology. Each designer's unique pieces were created using Epson's SureColor series printers, including SureColor F6430, SureColor F9430H, and SureColor F10030.
The showcase highlighted how innovation and technology can create more eco-conscious practices in the fashion industry. All designers featured in the Epson Runway Show utilized dye-sublimation printers to create their pieces, demonstrating the potential for high-quality, sustainable fashion.
During the opening address, Siew Jin Kiat, Regional Managing Director at Epson Southeast Asia, highlighted Epson's collaboration with renowned Japanese fashion designer Yuima Nakazato. The avant-garde collection from the designer demonstrates advancements in sustainable, printed fabrics enabled by Epson's solutions. The fabric is now thinner, more flexible, and optimized for printing using Epson's sustainable direct-to-fabric digital textile printing technology.
In addition to the fashion runway showcases, Epson and AFDS also hosted an insightful panel discussion that delved into the impact and importance of sustainability in the fashion and technology industry.
The panelists for the session included:
Desmond Gay, Regional Manager of Commercial Products, Epson Southeast Asia
Hayden Ng, President Founder of ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase
Rocco Leo Gaglioti, CEO of FNL Network (USA)
Aidarkhan Kaliyev, Founder of Aspara International Fashion Week (Kazakhstan)
Marianna Micelli, Founder of Mad Mood Milano Fashion Week (Italy)
Eduardo Perez Gonzales Ocantos, Fashion Designer for Ocantos (Argentina)
Juan Gerscovich, CEO / Creative Director of Industry of All NationsTM.
Neva Weber, International PR and Media Director of ASEAN International Fashion Week, moderated the session.
Fashion panel discussion on sustainability
Some of the key topics discussed include Epson's significant advancements in sustainability and innovation within the textile printing industry. Desmond highlighted how Epson's dye-sublimation printers reduce water consumption compared to analog printing methods.
The dye-sublimation inks are also certified with Oeko-Tex Eco Passport, a certification tested for harmful substances, improving working conditions. He also emphasized Epson's commitment to becoming carbon-negative and underground resource-free, noting that all electricity used at Epson-owned sites globally now comes from renewable sources, cutting 400,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.
Desmond also shared Epson's plans, including constructing the first biomass power plant within the next three years, further solidifying their dedication to sustainable energy solutions.
Pop up store
Beyond catching a glimpse of the latest fashion collection on stage, fashion enthusiasts could also try on the runway pieces and purchase them. As part of the pop-up, the public was able to view the exhibition of Epson's textile printers—SC-F6430H and SC-F130—that support textile production as well as bespoke gift productions. It was an engaging experience for the public better to understand the cutting-edge technology behind the innovative printers.
"At Epson, we believe that innovation and technology play a crucial role in driving positive change in the fashion industry. Our products are designed to address the varied needs of commercial and industrial sectors, with a strong emphasis on supporting people and protecting the environment," said Masako Kusama, President and Director of Epson Philippines.
"Additionally, our extensive collaboration with AFDS is a testament to our commitment to raising awareness and driving the adoption of eco-conscious printing practices in the fashion community. We look forward to fostering a more sustainable future for generations," Kusama added.
"We are thrilled to partner with Epson again to bring sustainable fashion to the center stage. The partnership allows us to spotlight a fashion collection representing the region's essence while raising awareness of sustainable circular fashion practices. We look forward to a long-term partnership with a shared vision for the future of fashion and technology," added Hayden Ng, Premier Founder/Singapore Fashion Ambassador, ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase.
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