On 15 November 2023, Epson Como participated as a sponsor in the event 'Fashion 4.0: sustainability and the future', organised by Anitec-Assinform - the Confindustria association that unites ICT companies in Italy. The meeting focused on the increased use of digital in the fashion world, and the increased sustainability that would result.

Italy is a world leader in this sector, in which it excels in the quality of materials, sophisticated design and attention to detail. Moreover, this market is estimated to have accounted for 5.2 per cent of national GDP by 2022, although it remains anchored in tradition, which, in some cases, has not favoured the integration of new technologies within the production process.

Marco Gay, president of Anitec-Assinform, emphasised the imperative of change in the sector, stating that digital is crucial to improve the customer experience. He explained that investing in this field is essential for adapting to the changing needs of the market.

The companies present shared their vision of the opportunities offered by digitisation, with a focus on sustainability, operational efficiency and a deeper connection with consumers.

At the event, the White Paper 'Fashion 4.0' was released, outlining the main features of a digital transformation adapted to the different needs of companies. The drafting of the document was mainly based on four focus groups: the new digital, sales models, digital factory and supply chain, and sustainability.

The study of changes in consumer behaviour revealed the need for a careful review of creative processes, while the analysis of the global scenario made it possible to highlight changes in the market. Sustainability has been identified as one of the positive spin-offs of digitisation, which can also reduce environmental impact through careful monitoring of the supply chain.
The paper highlights the importance of a synergy between the ICT sector and the fashion industry to address new challenges and exploit emerging opportunities. In this process, there are three key topics to pay attention to: product, service and experience. All three are fundamental to building a relevant value proposition for the end consumer.

To prove the effectiveness of implementing technology solutions within the textile industry, the White Paper presented the Epson Monna Lisa digital printer as a 'use case'.

With the Monna Lisa project, focusing on an innovative printer with reduced environmental impact, Epson aims to pursue the main goals set for the textile industry by the 2030 Agenda. But that's not all. During the Paris Fashion Week in July 2023, the renowned Japanese designer Yuima Nakazato presented a number of creations in recycled fabric, whose fibres could be reconstituted thanks to Epson's Dry Fiber technology - which was created to recycle paper and has been adapted to recycle the fabric of used clothes. The reconstituted fabric was printed with a state-of-the-art Monna Lisa, ML-13000, giving full proof of Epson's contribution to the fashion industry.

Change is underway, and Epson stands out as one of its main players.