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Kornit, FIT Partner on Sustainable Printing Project


First place was awarded to Jihee Che’s “The Sulawesi Sea: Save the Coral Reefs.”
June 21, 2016

Kornit Digital, Rosh-Ha’Ayin, Israel, has collaborated with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) on a project to challenge students to create designs that can be digitally printed onto fabric in a sustainable manner.

The third-year collaboration focuses on encouraging FIT’s textile/surface design students to create original designs applying different concepts. This year’s theme, “Wearable Water,” highlights the importance of one of the Earth’s largest and most important ecosystems: its oceans. For the first time since the project began, students watched in person as their designs were printed on the Kornit Allegro at Papilio Prints in New Jersey.

First place was awarded to Jihee Che for her design, “The Sulawesi Sea: Save the Coral Reefs.” The piece is supposed to remind people of the seriousness of environmental pollution and endangered species, Che says. Second place went to Janisha Biyanwila for “Water: An Inconvenient Truth;” third place went to Rachel McGuire for “Blended Bycatch.” Paige Leonard received an honorable mention.

The designs were judged based on use of theme and sustainability, marketability, use of digital technology and overall design aesthetics. The panel of judges consisted of Melissa Niederman, art director of The Style Council; Tom Cody of Tom Cody Design; Joe Castaldo, president of The Style Council; and Nancy Fire, creative director of Design Works Intl. Representing Kornit North America were Paul Borucki, managing director; Jim Manelski, business development manager; and Marco Paul, strategic accounts manager.


In addition to cash prizes, the winners will have their fabrics replicated as fashion items that feature strong eco-awareness and demonstrate how this can be successfully incorporated in the reproduction of greener garments. Additionally, the finalists’ designs will be featured in Kornit’s booth at September’s SGIA Expo in Las Vegas.

This summer, FIT’s fashion design students will compete in a contest using this year’s textile design submissions to create a finished garment.

For more information, visit kornit.com. — J.L.


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