Launched in a collaboration between tech firm Kornit Digital and social enterprise firm Fashion Enter, the centre is focused on “bringing on-demand fashion and textile mass customisation back to the UK”.According to Kornit Digital’s ‘Impact and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)’ report, 30% of textile production is overproduction. “Using proprietary streamlined, eco-friendly digital production technologies”, Kornit Digital said it is “transforming the fashion industry with more efficient and sustainable processes”. 

According to the same report, by 2026, the company’s systems will use up to 95% less water, 94% less energy and produce 83% less greenhouse gas emissions.In addition to highlighting production capabilities that minimise carbon footprint, the Fashtech Innovation Centre serves as a prototype for brands and fulfillers seeking to mitigate logistical complexities, time-to-market, and supply chain risks by bringing production nearer to the end consumer. Eliminating overproduction and producing on demand, this nearshoring model drives profitability even in highly regulated and high-cost markets while contributing to local economies and removing transport-related waste.“As our partner ecosystem continues to grow globally by aligning with such leaders as Fashion-Enter, companies are realising just how powerful sustainable, on-demand digital production can be and the countless inherent benefits it provides,” said Chris Govier, Kornit Digital’s president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “We are pleased to put these technologies on full display in our new joint Fashtech Innovation Centre and bring on-demand manufacturing back home to the UK. Whether you’re a brand, apparel provider, custom fabric fulfiller, or creative designer wondering how to handle the next major market disruption, grow product lines, create a more eco-responsible and accountable production floor – or just want to waste less – the Innovation Centre will help you achieve these goals.”Jenny Holloway, chief executive of Fashion-Enter added: “This Innovation Centre makes it possible to capture the full, end-to-end production process in one, single location.“The beauty of having print on demand means there are no minimums, so we can make one garment, or we can make up to 30,000 garments a week from all locations at the same fixed cost. Here, we can also train future generations on the right way of producing garments for today, responsive to demand, with minimal waste — ethical and sustainable. This is the future of fashion and textiles.”