When important information needs to be added to a garment, such as washing and care instructions or constituent fibres, clothing manufacturers and their print suppliers have three choices: garment labels, heat transfer labels, and direct-to-garment prints.

At Focus Label, we have 40 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, and installing a range of label printing machines for the fashion industry.

For many years, paper became almost a dirty word in the world of commercial printing. Paper labels and packaging were seen as old fashioned, inflexible, difficult to recycle, unsustainable to produce (due to exploitative timber farming practices), and heavy in ink consumption. As a result, paper substrates were replaced or supplemented by a range of plastic or metallic foils, or plasticised paper with a lower wood-pulp content. Printing presses were developed accordingly – to handle a range of foils and paper-free substrates.

Narrow web flexo printing is a cost-effective and reliable solution for mid-large volume print runs. Operating with webs that, typically, are between 10” and 16” wide, narrow web flexo printing works well with UV-curable inks which dry quickly, thereby eliminating the need for additional drying equipment, and delivering a lower ink cost per square metre without compromising on image quality.

The fast changing sports, fashion and home furnishing sectors are leading the drive towards new technology. Where the overall volume and variety of textiles consumption is increasing, the individual order volumes are decreasing. Savvy consumers are evermore being led by traditional media, digital advertising, and influencers on social media.

A sketchy record on sustainability can have a real effect on brand image and is often something your customers and shareholders will judge your business on. On the flip side, a strong commitment to sustainability can have a positive effect on your business. By investing in the latest generation of flexographic printing technology, you gain access to a wider range of substrates and printing strategies, opening your business to a more diverse market.