Future changes

Blendworth is looking towards the future. Steve Dobinson, Blendworth’s designer, is working closely with Andy Hancock, Managing Director and Nikki Reed, Design Director; pushing the boundaries to change the company’s image.

The advent of digital print is set to revolutionise the fabrics industry, influencing both design aesthetics and style – and Blendworth is already taking advantage of this by producing watercolour effects on fabric and experimenting with the combination of traditional artwork, photographic and ‘impressionistic’ images, all within the same design.

"With digital printing there is no restriction on the number of colours to be used in the design; almost any imagery can be printed on fabric,” comments, Steve Dobinson. "Digital printing makes it possible to create concepts of graphic texture, overscale motifs and photographic detail. The possibilities are truly exciting."

"What’s more, digitally printed designs do not require any set repeat size and, as a result, Blendworth will be able to create motifs that could cover the full width of fabric."

"Digital print will have other repercussions on the fabrics industry. Digitally printed textile design can be produced far more quickly and efficiently than conventional printing processes and it will be easier to produce quantities of printed fabric on demand rather than holding large stocks in huge warehouses."

"Digital fabric printing technology has developed and improved over the last 10 years but, at present, there are very few mills in the UK using his production method. This is set to change and, at Blendworth, we believe that textile printing production may, in the near future, move away from a few major textile mills to many small digital textile printing shops."