With another successful Impressions Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, now in the books, it’s time for apparel decorators and the screen printing, embroidery, heat pressing and digital decorating equipment and materials suppliers of the world to starting thinking about the 2024 Impressions Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. Keep an eye on this page for the latest information on everything you need to know to make the Southwest’s premier decorated-apparel trade show and your own business a success, including: registration deadlines, conference session info, networking opportunities, Shop Talk with Ink Kitchen updates, exhibitor news and debuts, and much more.
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Fort Worth Shop Talk Video: Heat-Transfer Apparel DecoratingIn this Shop Talk discussion recorded as part of Impressions Expo Fort Worth in 2023, host Rick Roth of the Ink Kitchen talks about how to avoid a few of the most common heat-press decorating mistakes with heat press and heat transfer expert Dave Conner of STAHLS’ Transfer Express. To watch the entire conversation, click here.
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In addition to the abundance of commerce that took place at last month’s Impressions Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Ink Kitchen, with the help of supporters throughout the decorated-apparel industry, was also able to help give back to the local community: specifically, by helping out Adelaide’s Place, a not-for-profit dedicated to providing safe place for women who are otherwise without a home. As in year’s past, Ink Kitchen will be doing that same at the upcoming expo in Forth Worth. For more information, click here.
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Fort Worth Shop Talk Video: Focus on the Business side of your Embroidery BusinessIn this Shop Talk session from last year’s Fort Worth Expo, Jennifer Cox of the National Network of Embroidery Professionals says embroiderers (and decorators) need to be sure they don’t get so bogged down with the technical side of the business they fail to address issues like pricing and placing an accurate value on their work. To watch the conversation video, click here.
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The deadline for those interested in presenting as part of the Impressions Expo Fort Worth conference program, Oct. 23-26, only have a few more days to register. Organizers are looking for expertise in any one of seven primary educational tracks: screen printing, embroidery/digitizing, heat-applied graphics/DTF, DTG, graphics/design, sublimation, business best practices and the role of generative artificial intelligence in the area of design. For more information, click here.
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All three Impressions Expos have been on a roll of late and Impressions Expo Fort Worth, set to take place Oct. 24-26 (with the event’s attendant conference program kicking off Oct. 23) looks to continue the trend. Conference presenters continue to sign up; the Ink Kitchen, with industry veteran and Mirror Image CEO Rick Roth, is busily lining up participants for its celebrated Shop Talk panel; and expo organizers are fast running out of prime show space due to the number of exhibitors throwing their hats into the ring. This is a show that screen printers, embroiders, digital decorators and heat press specialists of all stripes are not going to want to miss out on—whether they’re in the market for a new piece or equipment, looking for the latest in thread, inks, dyes or transfer equipment or getting the skinny on the latest business and management practices. Attendee registration will be opening in early June. So, keep an eye on this space!
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Impressions Expo Fort Worth 2023 Another SuccessImpressions Expo and the decorated apparel business remain on a roll, with crowds and the overall feel at last week’s Impressions Expo Fort Worth confirming the industry continues to sustain its post-COVID momentum. In terms of raw numbers, this year’s Impressions Expo Fort Worth saw a show floor chock-o-block full, thanks to a 25 percent increase in the amount of exhibitor space and an 8 percent increase in attendance compared to 2022—a year that was already seeing the event returning to pre-COVID levels. For more on the Impressions Fort Worth 2023, click here. For more on Impressions Expo Fort Worth 2024, click here.
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Mimaki USA, recently announced TRAPIS, a next-generation digital transfer sublimation printing system that makes textile production more environmentally friendly.
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A4, manufacturer of premium sportswear and team uniforms, is now making all its most popular apparel, and the vast majority of its line, with recycled polyester.
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Per the global market-research firm Repot Prime the global direct-to-garment (DTG) printing machine market is expected to grow $710 million by 2030.
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