In an interview with Insider, a Greater Manchester-based supplier of digitally prepared textiles discussed its goals for 2025 and how innovation propels growth.
Premier Digital fabrics provides a variety of fabrics from stock, ranging from natural fibers like cotton and linen to synthetic fibers like polyester and viscose, catering to the home furnishings, interior decor, and fashion industries.
Textiles for the digital textile printing sector are the company’s specialty.
Premier Digital Textiles director Nick Smith told Insider that the company’s US and UK divisions had performed well.
“In the UK we started trading in August 2023 and we’ve been trading in America since October 2022,” he stated. Because we are lucky to have a solid product that is generating demand and attention in the US, UK, and around Europe, it has gone incredibly well and we haven’t needed to be out there selling.
“We didn’t start from zero when we set up because we already had Premier Textiles, which had been there for a while and was doing well. Indeed, we faced difficulties in managing inventory and assembling a crew, but once the US and UK divisions were established, the true difficulty was controlling demand. After an unpredictable start in the first few months, things settled down which has given us a platform to really push on and deliver on plans.
“With a staff of 16, we generated £5 million in sales in our first year of operations between the US and UK divisions, which is an incredible first year. Avoiding overcommitting and overpromising was our toughest issue.
Our usual clients are new businesses who purchase entry-level printing equipment. They come from a creative background and are excited about taking designs and printing them onto fabric, even if they don’t have much experience with it. Since our strength lies in our capacity to collaborate with them and provide guidance and support, there is genuine value here.
Smith stated that the success of the company depended on innovation in addition to quality and consistency.
“We see a growing number of printers in our industry switching from analog to digital printing, and we’re at the forefront of that as we have a proven track record,” he stated. “We are aware of the difficulties they encounter. Having a high-quality base cloth is essential to success when purchasing and using a printer. We take great satisfaction in our continuity, quality, and consistency, which puts us in a very strong position. We are performing incredibly well both in terms of industry and performance.
“We aim at maximizing innovation through cutting edge methods to sustainability and making the product the best it can be because most customers are seeking for value added. That’s where we come in. pricing is another area where we innovate because of pricing pressures. Since we strive to keep ahead of the curve and make sure we are showcasing new items to people whenever possible, we frequently visit trade exhibitions and always have an innovation wall that attracts the most attention. Our staff puts a lot of effort into identifying chances for innovation by examining the smallest features of products and catering to the changing demands of the market.
Smith talked about many recent Premier Digital Textiles projects.
“The appetite for sustainability across the industry is strong and we are having lots of discussions around recycling,” he stated. “We were the first to introduce recycled cotton and polyester to the market.” We like to believe that we are leading the way and that we are combining materials that no one else is considering.
“Our biodegradable polyester is attracting a lot of interest and is undoubtedly gaining traction. Since garbage is a major concern for them, more customers are considering what they do with it. Working with important clients who produce a lot of garbage that ends up in landfills, we are looking into collecting that waste, repurposing it, and spinning it into new fibers that can be sold and sewn into fabric.
Premier Digital Textiles created a line of completely GOTS certified pigment-coated organic cotton textiles as part of our innovation push. 2327 Eco Double Gauze was the first fabric from our groundbreaking line to be made available for nursery items like bibs, swaddles, baby linens, baby towels, accessories, and toys. More will be offered in the upcoming months.
Nick Smith, director at Premier Digital Textiles
As the new year approaches, Premier Digital Textiles hopes to grow even more.
In order to provide additional office space for a QC team, a product development team, and to increase our digital marketing offering, Smith continued, “We are looking at growing our team from 16 and expanding our site in Bury. Our workforce is enthusiastic, driven, and well-informed, and we have a solid foundation now as we move to 2025 and beyond.
Working with current clients and responding to the 250 incoming inquiries we receive year will be the main sources of our growth. We haven’t had the resources to handle all of the new business, so servicing that element is really difficult. We are also making headway in another area, which is related to our work with original equipment manufacturers: being present in demo centers around the world. We currently live in a world where people expect their digital fabrics to be supplied the same day. Having more inventory and having the appropriate amounts in the correct places at the right times present difficulties.
“We excel in print-on-demand and décor products, but we haven’t really capitalized on the largest market: fashion. The UK is seeing an increase in demand for fashion-based clothing as well as a broader shift away from fast fashion toward more locally produced, sustainable, long-lasting, and onshoring goods.
“In the new year we will be putting together new fashion fabrics that aren’t commodity, adding value by sourcing ethically with strong eco and sustainable credentials.”
