ImagesMagUK_November_2020

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 16 images NOVEMBER 2020 Pin it... on the Images Pinterest boards: www.pinterest.co.uk/imagesmaguk/ GPMA calls on UK government for print disaster relief fund The Graphics and Print Media Alliance (GPMA) has sent a joint statement to the UK government calling for a means- tested disaster relief grant fund for the UK print industry as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The GPMA, a body of trade associations supporting commercial print, addressed the statement to the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and the business secretary, Alok Sharma. Backed unanimously by all 15 members of the GPMA, the statement warns the UK government that more than 3,000 businesses will go into insolvency by Christmas if the print sector does not receive a specific support package, with a further 3,000 under threat in the next six months. Read the joint statement in full at imagesmag.uk/GPMA- Joint-Statement. imagesmag.uk/GPMA-print-relief-fund Do you want to know what your industry colleagues really think of the garments and accessories they decorate? Each issue, one reader explains why they rate a particular product Tudor Lloyd-Kerry, co-owner of Flood Print, says his favourite garment to print is the Heavy Hoody (BY011) – part of the Build Your Brand range. As the season changes, more and more hoodies are being printed, explains Tudor, and the BY011 offers “a good fit, and is very well made”. “The print surface is great for water- based inks, which we use 99% of the time, and there hasn’t been any noticeable dye migration, which is great for a polycotton garment. “Its washability is also very good — we’ve test-washed it at least 30 times, and the garment and print still look great!” he reports. The BY011 is made from a 300gsm, 65% cotton/35% polyester fabric, and comes in six colours; a zip-up version is also available. Tudor’s top tip for printing on hoodies is to have a good bit of tack to hold the garment in place when a print/flash/ print is required. “Pre-shrinking would also be a good idea to help stop any shifting,” he adds. www.flood-print.co.uk The GPMA’s joint statement calls for a print-specific support package Brands must make sustainability efforts clear on clothing labels, says GlobalData Clothing labels need to be clearer when it comes to showing how a product is sustainable, reports GlobalData. The data and analytics company said it’s important for apparel brands to demonstrate their sustainability efforts on their product labels, as “transparency continues to be a key driver of purchasing decisions”. Hannah Abdulla, apparel correspondent at GlobalData, commented: “Sustainability is fast approaching a point where it is non-negotiable.” GlobalData’s research found that 37.3% of UK consumers agree that retailers that place greater emphasis on sustainability are more appealing, and that retailers “ought to capitalise on changing attitudes as the shift towards ethical retail gains more momentum”. imagesmag.uk/GlobalData- Label-Sustainable READERS’ CHOICE Apparel brands should be clearer about sustainability on product labels, says GlobalData Build Your Brand’s Heavy Hoody is great for water-based inks, says Tudor