FESPA Awards - excellence in garment and textiles

FESPA Awards 2023 celebrated excellence in both print and signage and exceptional pieces garment and textile sectors. The awards recognised innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability.

The awards consist of 18 specialised categories that are evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry experts. This article showcases 4 winners of the FESPA Awards 2023 that specialise in t-shirts, printed garments and roll-to-roll textiles. These companies won gold and bronze awards for their award categories. The winners showcase what can be achieved using innovative printing technologies and reduced their carbon emissions and energy consumption during production.

Monster Press (Gold Award - Special Effect on T-shirts, Garments, and Other Textiles)

Monster Press, a UK-based screen-printing company, won the Gold Award for its entry, ‘No More Hope’. The project was a collaboration with Hard Times Clothing, it featured a design that combined elements from the Avengers and Star Wars into a vintage inspired print. Using Earth Positive Classic eco-friendly fabrics, Monster Press demonstrated their expertise in soft prints, intricate halftones, and subtle colour blending. Their use of cutting-edge printing technology and sustainable materials highlighted this entry. Monster Press are currently exploring ways to improve the sustainability of their business and are investigating solar energy options for their operations.

Expand A Sign (Bronze Award - Roll-to-Roll Printed Textiles)

Expand A Sign, a South African event branding company, won the Bronze Award for their unique mini product display. The company used EFI Reggiani printers and rPET fabrics made from recycled South African waste, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. The project not only showcased their technical expertise but they also reduced emissions through local, eco-friendly fabric production. The team is known for its innovation and ability to meet the logistical challenges of producing high-quality branding materials on a global scale.

Tobex (Bronze Award - Roll-to-Roll Printed Textiles)

Swedish printing company Tobex won a Bronze Award for their entry ‘Flora Dress’, designed by artist Martin Bergström. This piece was installed in a Stockholm department store, it involved printing 135 metres of polyester voile using dye sublimation on a Mimaki 320 digital printer using Mexar ink. The transparent fabric dropped from the ceiling, creating a flowing effect above shoppers. Tobex’s dedication to sustainability was evident in their use of water-based sublimation inks and minimal energy consumption during production.

Sincerely Screen Co (Bronze Award - Printed Garments)

Thailand’s Sincerely Screen Co secured a Bronze Award for their ‘DNA’ polo shirt. This complicated design utilised silicone ink and a high-density sandwich-printing technique to create a lenticular effect, allowing the design to change depending on the angle of view. The shirt also featured a hidden security detail that appears when backlit, making each piece unique to the individual wearing it. The complex printing involved over 50 layers of ink and highlighted the company’s innovation in garment decoration.

These winners in garment and textile categories show the variety of techniques, creativity, and sustainable practices that the FESPA Awards aim to promote.

Join us in 2025 for the next edition of FESPA Awards, alongside the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin. Applications are now open, apply here!  If you are interested in visiting FESPA Global Print Expo 2025 taking place from 6 – 9 May at Messe Berlin, Germany register your interest here.