Digital printing offers higher resolution & precise printing
Established in 1990, Ganga Fashions started as an export company and gradually expanded its reach across various international markets. Then in 2007, the company ventured into the local markets pan India. With a focus on rich heritage and culture, it has consistently blended traditional designs with contemporary fashion philosophy to create unique collections that resonate with fashion enthusiasts across the world. The brand’s commitment to innovation, attention to detail, and customisation have helped it carve a niche in the industry, providing customers with a local and global feel. MS Printing Solutions’ digital printing machines have helped the company to grow while remaining dedicated to creating contemporary and ethnic fashion that inspires and delights. Ganga Fashions’ CEO Rammnaath KM speaks to Fibre2Fashion about ethnic apparel and the machinery used to print the same, including digital printing.
What is so unique about ethnic apparel? What special machinery is required for its manufacturing?
Ethnic design apparel is unique in that it is often rooted in traditional cultural aesthetics, patterns and textiles. These garments are often characterised by intricate designs, vibrant colours, and unique textures that reflect the cultural heritage of the people who created them. The manufacturing of ethnic design apparel often requires specialised machinery to create the intricate patterns and designs.
Printing machines can transfer designs onto fabric through digital printing. An inkjet printer can be used to print designs onto fabric using a variety of inks and pigments. These printers can produce high-quality, detailed prints on a range of fabrics, including cotton, silk, and polyester.
The use of digital printing machinery in the production of ethnic design apparel allows for greater flexibility and customisation in the design process. It also allows for the creation of intricate, detailed designs that may not be possible with traditional printing methods. However, it is important to note that the use of digital printing does not detract from the cultural and historical significance of ethnic design apparel, as it is still possible to create designs that are rooted in tradition and reflect a particular cultural heritage.
How do you ensure the same print results across your range of products and why is this important for sustainability?
Ensuring Same Print Results (SPR) across various range of products is essential to maintain consistency in the print quality of different products produced by a company. To achieve SPR, it is fundamental to standardise the printing process with consistent parameters such as ink, colour, and resolution settings; to ensure quality control measures so that the printing process produces the desired results; to have a regularly calibrated printing equipment; to use colour management software to ensure that the colours are consistent across all products, regardless of the type of material being printed on.
Maintaining SPR is important for sustainability because it reduces waste and helps to minimise the environmental impact of the printing process. When SPR is not maintained, it can result in the need for reprints and excessive inventory, which can lead to unnecessary waste and resource consumption. Additionally, when print results are inconsistent, it can lead to customer dissatisfaction and the need for returns or replacements, which can also contribute to waste and environmental impact. By ensuring SPR, companies can reduce waste, improve their bottom line, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Can digital printing give the same look and feel as normal printing?
Digital printing can achieve similar or even better results than traditional printing methods in terms of look and feel. With advancements in digital printing technology, it is now possible to produce high-quality prints that closely resemble the look and feel of traditional printing methods, such as offset or screen printing.
One of the key advantages of digital printing is its ability to produce sharp and precise images with accurate colour reproduction. This is due to the use of high-resolution digital images and the ability to adjust ink levels and colour saturation digitally.
Which machinery do you use for manufacturing your products?
We use MS Printing Solutions’ digital printing machines. The company designs and manufactures digital printing machines for various applications, including textiles.
JP series printers are scanning machines designed for high-speed printing on textiles and feature advanced inkjet technology, precision printing capabilities, and a range of ink options for various substrates.
They are highly customisable, allowing for a range of printing options and configurations to suit the specific needs of different customers. They can print up to 3200 dpi resolution and can handle printing widths of up to 3.2 metres. This makes them suitable for large-scale printing applications such as banners, billboards, and building wraps. These digital printing machines also feature advanced drying and curing technologies, which allow for faster drying times and improved print quality. The machines are also designed to be user-friendly, therefore they are easy to operate, with intuitive controls and an intuitive user interface. One of the flagship products of MS Printing Solutions is the JP7 digital printing machine.
Overall, MS Printing Solutions is recognised as a leader in the digital printing industry. The company’s focus on innovation, research and development has allowed them to develop cutting-edge printing solutions that are used by businesses and organisations around the world.
What are the advantages of digital printing? Do you use it both for printing on textile and garments?
Digital printing offers a number of advantages over traditional printing methods, such as high-resolution and precise printing, which result in sharp, vivid, and accurate images and colours on a range of textile materials.
Digital printing is also faster and more efficient than traditional printing methods, as it does not require the setup of printing plates or screens, therefore it can be cost-effective for short print runs or on-demand printing.
Greater customisation and personalisation are two additional features of digital printing as it can handle variable data and produce unique prints for each item with detailed prints that may be difficult to achieve with traditional printing methods.
Together with all of this, digital printing uses less ink and produces less waste than traditional printing methods, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
So, it is no wonder that digital printing is becoming increasingly popular in the apparel and fashion industry, with many companies are already taking the step forward. For the several benefits that I have mentioned, I think, other companies in the apparel and fashion segment should also switch to digital printing at the earliest.
How do you educate your customers about sustainability and circularity?
To educate customers about the sustainability and circularity it is important to highlight the environmental benefits of digital printing, such as reduced waste, energy consumption, and water usage, as well as the use of eco-friendly inks and recyclable materials. It is essential to provide information on circularity of digital printing technology, such as the chance to reduce excessive inventory and waste, as well as the potential for recycling and upcycling printed fabrics. This can be done by sharing case studies and examples. Another important aspect is the engagement of customers in the process by asking for their input and feedback, and encouraging them to participate in sustainability initiatives, such as recycling or upcycling programmes. Finally, companies can offer to customers sustainability certifications for their digital printing processes and materials, such as GOTS or OEKO-TEX.
How do you balance sustainability with the need to remain competitive in the market?
Balancing sustainability with the need to remain competitive in the market can be challenging, but there are several ways in which companies can achieve this. First is by making sustainability a core value of the brand and communicating the same to customers, thus building customer loyalty and differentiating from competitors. Another method is to innovate and invest in sustainable technologies and materials that can help reduce waste and environmental impact, while still producing high-quality products. Sustainable practices not only reduce environmental impact but also lower costs, such as energy-efficient lighting, reducing waste, and optimising logistics and transportation. To obtain all of this, however, it is crucial to work with suppliers and partners who share your commitment to sustainability, and collaborate to find ways to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability practices throughout the supply chain. At the same time, there is need to educate and involve stakeholders, including employees, customers, and investors, in sustainability initiatives and practices to foster a culture of sustainability within the organisation.
How has your company benefitted after adopting digital printing processes?
Adopting digital printing processes can help companies to increase efficiency and productivity as it does not require the setup of printing plates or screens and this can lead to increased productivity, faster turnaround times, and lower labour costs. It can help companies to stay competitive thanks to its cost-effectiveness for short print runs and the increase in customised and high-quality products to customers.
Digital printing can offer higher resolution and precise printing, resulting in sharper and more accurate images and colours. This can lead to better quality products and customer satisfaction. Also, digital printing being an environmentally friendly option, customers who are environmentally conscious can see it as a selling point and trust a company.
How do digital textile printing processes contribute to waste reduction?
Digital printing processes contribute to waste reduction by decreasing setup waste, material waste – thanks to the processes’ enhanced precision and avoidance of excessive inventory. It also promotes the use of recyclable materials and reduces the need for reprints – thanks to an extremely precise colour matching. These benefits not only reduce the environmental impact of printing processes but can also help companies to save money and improve their bottom line.
What are the next plans at Ganga Fashions? Are there any specific sustainability goals that you have set for the future?
Our next plan is to deeply penetrate in e-commerce and export markets. Also, we will introduce linen and rayon finishing machines which will cater to the segment of female Indo-Western outfits. Finally, we are working towards the acquisition of extremely important certifications such as GOTS, SEDEX and OEKO-TEX to offer sustainable products to the market.
