Fashion house Lacoste has just unveiled its latest collection - designed by Michael Young. This is the second of the ‘LACOSTE Holiday’ Collector’s Series, which is a process that the brand uses to get a designer from outside the fashion world to reinterpret its iconic polo shirt (and, not entirely incidentally, to present challenges its production methods).
Michael Young has been amongst the most successful and influential designers of his generation.You’ve never heard of him?Well his furniture collection, designed for a Tokyo store was purchased the Design Museum London and was said to have created ‘a new formal language’ in design.
So what has he done for Lacoste – well it’s a polo shirt with a crocodile skin pattern (no surprises there) that travels up the front and around the back of the shirt, but instead of a silk-screen printing process, the heat-activated ink has been applied directly to the cotton and then ‘baked’ causing it to blister and become thick, plastic fake croc skin itself. Lovely.There is also a limited edition called the PLASTIC POLO +, where the croc skin print has been covered with a metallic leaf film and pressed with a hot iron, giving a distressed, vintage look and feel.The collection is packaged in a re-sealable metallic black plastic tray that can be re-used as a serving platter!
And if that isn’t to your taste, the hot colours for polos in the Christmas run up are said to be dark grey, lime green and pink!
Lacoste fashion show photograph by ksquare, used under a creative commons attribution licence.
Mayer House Business Media Limited is set to launch the inaugural trade show which they hope will raise the standard of shows aimed “specifically for the UK garment supply, decoration and equipment industry”. Entitled ‘Printwear UK’ the show has been confirmed for 17-18 February 2008 at Cranmore Park. The announcement follows the successful launch of their industry magazine ‘Printwear Today’, whose immediate and resounding popularity “proves emphatically that the market for garment decorators has been, and is continuing to grow” according to Managing Director Nick Carpenter.
Printwear Today will host the exhibition and raising its own profile in the process, proving that their ambitions to become the leading garment decoration publication are not unfounded. The show will provide an opportunity to showcase garments, decoration applications, equipment and consumables. But the focus of the show is said to be new and innovative products, meaning that if successful this could well become the most important annual event for all garment decorators in the UK, and possibly even abroad.
A great deal of thought has gone into providing the ideal venue for the event, free parking is provided and Mayer House are very concious of the high prices associated with such events, often a turn-off for potential attendees. Carpenter states that there was a need for “a venue that appeals to both exhibitors and visitors alike. A venue that provides exhibitors, unrivalled value for money and gives visitors a much needed break from high costs associated with attending other venues in the area”.
Mayer House will no doubt be hoping their show becomes as successful as the annual FESPA convention (seen below) which has become the industry byword for a show on printing techniques.
An advertising campaign will be initiated to raise awareness of the show throughout the industry, comprising of trade press announcements, online campaigning and direct mail promotions, so this will certainly not be the last you hear of Printwear UK. It seems that the effort is barely warranted however, within a few weeks of marketing the event over 50% is already booked and reserved – so if you want to set up a stall and gain exposure, or keep up with all of the latest innovations in the industry, you had better book now before tickets are unavailable.
If you are truly passionate about screen printing and it is an area you wish to become involved in then this may be just the course for you. Recently I posted a video which explained how to do your own screen printing, but I understand that using the equipment whilst struggling to follow a video on a nearby computer might be difficult!
If you wish to become familiar with the basics, expand upon your existing skills, discuss ideas with a professional or just meet like minded hobbyists then make sure you visit Farncombe Estate when they hold their screen printing course on the 3-5 October 2008.
Hosted by Alicia Merret, an award winning designer whose work has been displayed internationally, the course is aimed at beginners and will teach how to screen-print text on cotton fabrics using acrylic paints through special screens made from computer lettering and other sources of text. You will also get the chance to “experiment with ideas and designs, and start making textile pieces incorporating words and script, using fabric collage, fusing, and fabric piecing techniques”.
If you are planning to attend be sure to enquire as to availability, as no doubt places will be scarce! You must also remember that although screens, paints, printing tools and equipment will be provided you must bring your own fabrics to print on and some other items, a full list of which can be found Here.
I came across this video which shows how you can screenprint your very own t-shirt.
Although the guys add sound and light effects this is only really recommended for people who have some prior experience. If you are a beginner and you want to follow their lead then the latter stages can be easily ignored.
There were three separate articles in this months ‘Printwear Today’ all documenting the Austrian screen-printing company MHM’s continued rapid expansion.
Founded only 27 years ago and now with dealers in 24 countries MHM has quickly established itself as the leading manufacturer of award-winning modern, efficient and easy to use screen printing equipment. Continuing its plans to grow in the UK, MHM has recently moved its sales office to new quarters in Derby, in preparation for further expansion plans. MHM has also recently revamped its online capabilities, with a new-look website enabling potential and existing customers to obtain advice and see their screen-printing equipment in action thanks to updated video feeds. Equipment specifications and brochures are now available as downloadable content and they are the first screen printing manufacturer to actually provide software updates for their products via their website, these can be instantly accessed by any purchaser of a machine and are easy to implement.
But perhaps the best indicator of MHM’s plans for dominance of the market is the hotly anticipated new digital textile printer that John Potter, of MHM Direct, promises will “revolutionise the industry”. Set to be introduced in January 2008 all that has been revealed of the system is that it has been developed with “one of the largest ink suppliers in the world”, it has been produced with high production capability in mind and that first test prints have been highly successful.
MHM no doubt hopes that the new system will be as well recieved as the Synchroprint 4000 AC
The innovative new system, which is fully patent protected and necessitated the production of speciality ink, is so powerful that Potter fully expects it to “reverse the trend of printed garment work going off shore”. Good times are in store for British screen printers it seems, we’ll keep you posted if any more details come to light.
