On Monday, September 2, TELMA hosted its debut runway-style show in Tokyo, showcasing 40 unique looks, with one-third of the fabrics printed using Kyocera Document Solutions’ innovative FOREARTH technology.
TERUMASA NAKAJIMA, TELMA’s lead designer, emphasized acetate fabric in the collection, a semi-synthetic material made primarily from wood pulp. Acetate is highly valued for its luxurious, silk-like sheen and soft drape, commonly used for scarves and skirts. However, traditional dyeing methods for acetate have posed challenges due to the fabric’s sensitivity to heat, leading to issues with color quality and consistency.
Kyocera’s FOREARTH technology offered a breakthrough for this runway show. The pigments used in FOREARTH do not require high-temperature processing, making them ideal for heat-sensitive fabrics like acetate. The result was vibrant, uniform colors, addressing common problems such as poor color reproduction and unevenness, all while maintaining the integrity of the fabric.
Nakajima expressed his admiration for FOREARTH’s transformative capabilities, stating, **“Until now, printing on acetate required high temperatures to achieve solid coloration, which limited our use of this fabric. When we saw the acetate printed with FOREARTH, we were surprised by both its excellent coloring and texture. I felt that FOREARTH could transcend design barriers, working not only with acetate but also with materials like silk and polyester, which had been difficult to process in the past.”
Nakajima further explained the concept behind his collection: “This was my first time presenting my collection in a Tokyo runway show, and I wanted it to serve as an introduction to who I am as a designer. I graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and started my career with Dries Van Noten. With this background, I aimed to merge Western and Eastern aesthetics, highlighting the craftsmanship that Japan is proud of.”
In addition to its design versatility, Nakajima praised FOREARTH’s environmental impact: **“I was deeply impressed by FOREARTH’s sustainability, reducing water use by 99% compared to conventional methods. We produced 40 costumes for this show, and I was amazed at how quickly FOREARTH could print a wide variety of designs on different fabrics. I believe this advanced, environmentally friendly printing technology will greatly benefit the future of the apparel industry.”
TELMA’s collection featured 10 distinct designs printed on fabrics including rayon-polyester blends, silk chiffon, polyester chiffon, polyester satin, and nylon organza, marking an exciting collaboration between cutting-edge fashion and sustainable textile technology.
