Images_Digital_Edition_March_2020

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 12 images MARCH 2020 The last-minute panic for presents for Mother’s Day (22 March, in case you needed reminding) and Father’s Day on 21 June can be a boom-time for printers and embroiderers, which is why this snazzy pair of socks has grabbed our attention. Made by Essex-based Lofty Creations, which is run by Jay Beevor and his wife Roxanne, the 100% polyester socks from Longforte are sublimation printed and the perfect choice for parents. “We made our own jig to insert into the sock to keep it the right shape so that when we apply the print and press it on there are no creases or folds in the material, which would otherwise result in an item that cannot be sold to the customer,” explains Jay. “The biggest issue we found with printing all-over sock designs was making sure there was a very minimal join mark as each side has to be printed independently. After some trial and error, we have found a nice little technique that makes a very minimal and passable join and we have had some great feedback so far.” Lofty Creations used an Epson WF7710 printer, which can handle prints up to A3+ size, and a UKPress swing heat press (38cm x 38cm) from Signzworld. “The paper and inks are from an amazing supplier called Ink Experts which has extensive knowledge within the sublimation industry and produces all its own inks, papers and ICC profiles,” adds Jay. www.weareloftycreations.com • Send your suggestion for our decorated product of the month to: editoral@images-magazine.com DECORATED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH Stay in the picture with our Instagram feed and stories: @imagesmaguk YES announces 25th anniversary grand prize draw winner YES celebrated its 25th anniversary on Friday 14 February by announcing its grand prize draw winner at the company’s showrooms in Mansfield. Maureen Ford from Northampton was announced as the winner of a new SWF MAN12 single-head embroidery machine in the prize draw, which was drawn live on Facebook by the deputy mayor of Mansfield, Stuart Richardson. Roy Burton, CEO of YES, said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone, especially in such a competitive marketplace, and are really happy to be able to celebrate with our valued customers and all the people that work here at YES Ltd. “We’re proud to have become influential, and to have been able to help so many businesses grow and achieve their goals. We have had the pleasure of working with and meeting many people in the UK as well as overseas over the years, and look forward to continuing to build on these strong relationships in the future.” www.yesltd.co.uk Sublimated socks from Lofty Creations [L-R] Deputy mayor of Mansfield, Stuart Richardson, with John-Paul Burton, sales director at YES US student creates screen printing ink that can be erased by heat A University of Cincinnati student has created a plastisol-based ink made with thermochromic pigment that can be erased with heat for the reuse and reprinting of T-shirts. The product, Cycle, was designed by senior industrial design student Ellen Posch to “combat the unsustainable amount of textile waste sent to landfills with a brand centred around circular fashion design”. “Cycle ink is currently a preliminary prototype, comprised of a plastisol-based substrate mixed with thermochromic pigment. When the T-shirt is heated above normal temperatures, the pigment in the ink disappears, leaving only the screen printing substrate,” explained Ellen. The T-shirts are delivered to customers in reusable metal canisters with a sticker displaying the monthly design, and subscribers send their T-shirts back to Cycle in the same canister each month for them to be reprinted. “The main benefits of thermochromic screen printing are its potential to divert textile waste from landfills, and [the ability to] offer customisation to consumers in a subscription-based model. The only challenge with the ink is developing a variety that’s more durable for everyday wear, and more sustainable than the original prototype.” www.ellenposch.com