Zipper featured in YUIMA NAKAZATO’s collection, INFERNO
(using a non-woven fabric sheet printed with Epson’s digital textile printing technology for the zipper tape)
Leverages proprietary technology to regenerate fibres from used garments to create zippers featured in YUIMA NAKAZATO’s Collection Presented at Paris Haute Couture Week
Epson has expanded the applications of non-woven fabric sheet regenerated from used clothing and mill ends using its proprietary Dry Fibre Technology (“DFT”). Epson, in collaboration with YUIMA NAKAZATO and YKK Corporation, developed the new material for use in zipper tapes, further broadening its potential applications. The resulting item was featured in the INFERNO collection by YUIMA NAKAZATO, unveiled during Paris Haute Couture Week.
Epson entered into a partnership with YUIMA NAKAZATO in 2022 and has supported the creation of the fashion house’s collections utilising Epson’s digital textile printing technology and DFT.
Together with fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, Epson has been working toward the realisation of high-quality, sustainable fashion that meets diverse individual needs while reducing environmental impact.
DFT was originally commercialised for paper recycling, but beginning in January 2023, Epson started using it to convert used garments and mill ends into fibres from which new non-woven fabric sheets could be produced.
YUIMA NAKAZATO has continuously presented creations incorporating these non-woven fabric sheets in its collections. Furthermore, through ongoing efforts to optimize fibre length and sheet thickness, as well as to validate pigment ink printing using Epson’s digital textile printing technology, Epson succeeded in achieving both durability and aesthetic quality.
In 2025, these efforts culminated in the commercialization by YUIMA NAKAZATO of sneakers incorporating non-woven fabric sheets.
In this latest initiative, Epson took on the challenge of applying the non-woven fabric sheets to zipper tapes for the first time, with the aim of exploring their potential for broader uses. As the sheets differ structurally from conventional woven zipper tapes, existing manufacturing methods could not be applied directly.
Building on insights gained through previous development efforts, Epson and YKK worked together to evaluate and optimise the strength, flexibility and thickness required for zipper applications. By optimising the structural design and processing conditions to suit the characteristics of the non-woven fabric sheets, the partners ensured smooth zipper operability and successfully realized the concept as part of EXCELLA®, YKK’s highest-grade metal zipper line.
Epson will continue creating new value with partners through technological innovation and engineering based on its efficient, compact and precise technologies and philosophy, accelerating efforts toward broader societal implementation to help drive transformation across society and industry.
To see more on The Future of Fashion Co-created with YUIMA NAKAZATO go to: https://corporate.epson/en/business/co-creation/activity/yuima-nakazato/
To see more on Epson’s Dry Fibre Technology go to: https://corporate.epson/en/technology/overview/printer-inkjet/dry-fiber-technology.html
To see more on EXCELLA®, YKK’s highest-grade metal zipper line go to: https://ykkdigitalshowroom.com/en/item/102
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About Epson, Epson Australia and Epson New Zealand
Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson’s goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion.
Epson Australia offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the commercial, industrial, consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets, and is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market. Epson is the market leader in Australia and worldwide in sales of projectors for the home, office and education. Established in 1983 Epson Australia is headquartered in North Sydney, NSW and is a subsidiary of the Epson Group headquartered in Japan.
Epson New Zealand offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the commercial, industrial, consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets, and is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market. Epson is a market leader in New Zealand, Australia and worldwide in sales of projectors for the home, office and education. Epson New Zealand is headquartered in Auckland and is a branch of Epson Australia Pty Limited, a subsidiary of the Epson Group headquartered in Japan.
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