Fashion Forward

IT CAN BE DEFEATING to work on a project for many months, just for it to get canceled. Unfortunately, that’s been the case for many PSPs since March 2020, including the team at MY Prints in Los Angeles. How do you recover from wasted time? Can you recycle or donate the material? Do you find a way to work with the client again?

These are the questions Carol Yeager, owner/creative director, and Steven Moreno, owner/director of operations, of MY Prints had to ask themselves a few months ago. But first, let’s go back to March 2021 when they were asked to participate in “The Collective,” a reality TV show hosted and executive produced by Amy Bond, fashion designer and “Project Runway” All Star. The MY Prints duo met Bond in 2020 on the first season of the Netflix show “Next in Fashion” where they partnered with Epson and TVF to showcase digital printing.

“We built a great repour with Amy on the Netflix show, so when she asked us if we would participate in a new show she was producing, we signed on,” says Yeager. “Coming back together was an exciting endeavor.”

“The Collective” planned to stage a high-tech, multi-city fashion week with a select group of celebrity designers. Those on the show would vlog their process and discuss what it’s like to design in the pandemic. Hosted by Bond, celebrity stylist Ty Hunter, and international model Laura Kirkpatrick-Cianciolo, the culminating Runway Show was to be broadcast live in July from The Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati.

Yeager came on to help support the designers on their artwork development and printing needs. “Some were very versed with prints and printing while others didn’t have as much experience, so I was there to guide them along,” she says. “I wanted them to experience the full A to Z service and support MY Prints likes to offer our clients. If you have a concept, we will guide you from the development to execution.” Yeager says the designers were very open to her suggestions, creating a “fun, collaborative effort.”

However, unexpected medical issues arose for Bond and the show was canceled in September. “All was going well when we were informed by Amy that she had a devastating cancer diagnosis and the show would have to be pushed out while she went into immediate treatment,” says Yeager. “At first, the show was still going to be produced, but along with Amy’s illness and the pandemic not letting up, the continuation of the show seemed to become an uphill battle for Amy and her production team.” Yeager and Moreno understood the cancelation, but were still disappointed to learn months of servicing the designers with designs and printing were potentially lost.

While some designers have not yet completed any garments from the yardage MY Prints printed – “I think once the show was canceled, the momentum stopped for some of the designers and they are pivoting to other collections,” says Yeager – others have found ways to use the printed material on different platforms. “Some designers have established brands so many used the prints for their personal collections, whether they offered the prints in their clothing line or showcased the work in other fashion shows.” Continue reading to learn about the collections and Yeager’s experience working with each designer.

Epson SureColor F9470H dye sublimation inkjet printer
TVF Fabrics: Poly Satin, Poly Micro Suede, and Poly Crepe Di Chine

Kenya Freeman
PROJECT RUNWAY

While working on “The Collective,” Kenya asked me to help her put together another print group for the 2021 Shein Fashion Design Contest she was entering. I was happy to help, so we got started. She had two prints she wanted to work with: a floral print and a stripe. She was not exactly sure which fabrics would work best so I asked her to let me know what garments she was creating. She was open to my suggestions, so it was great to collaborate with her. Based on what she was trying to create, I did some testing on the varying fabrics I had to work with, and we finalized the collection using TVF’s Poly Satin, Poly Micro Suede, and Poly Crepe Di Chine. Out of 30 designers, she made it to top five with this collection and sold out of her designs on Shein’s website! So cool. I love when I can see through a collection from concept to finished product. Very rewarding.

Epson SureColor F9470H dye sublimation inkjet printer
TVF Fabrics: Poly Crepe Di Chine, Taffeta, and Poly Micro Twill

Martha Gottwald
MAKING THE CUT

Martha went with only one print, but I loved the whimsical and playful vibe of her artwork. Her project was very straightforward.

Epson Sure Color F9470H dye sublimation inkjet printer
TVF Fabrics: Crepe Di Chine

Kentaro Kameyama
PROJECT RUNWAY

His design aesthetic is minimalistic, but avant garde. He wanted to play on “Femme Assise” or “Seated Woman/Woman Sitting in an Armchair” by Henri Matisse, so we developed the art for him.

Epson SureColor F9470H dye sublimation inkjet printer
TVF Fabrics: 100 percent Recycled Poly Micro Twill and Micro Suede

Kovid Kapoor
PROJECT RUNWAY

Kovid sent me two images he wanted to work with. They were maps of the Himalayas pulled off the internet, so I needed to figure out the best way to make it work for scale and resolution. He was open to my suggestions, so I told him I thought enlarging the map so it prints the full width of the fabric would be impactful. He loved the idea, so we went for it. I think his pieces came out so cool! He was great to work with. We have made plans to collaborate again for his next NYFW Collection.

Epson SureColor F9470H dye sublimation inkjet printer
TVF Fabrics: Poly Satin, Silky Chiffon, and Tricot

Kiki Kitty
NEXT IN FASHION

Working with Kiki was great. She really understands prints and colors and was familiar with the digital printing process, so it was just a matter of getting all her prints printed for her. She had the biggest collection.

Epson SureColor F9470H dye sublimation inkjet printer
TVF Fabrics: Taslan and Tricot

Mah-Jing Wong
PROJECT RUNWAY

Mah-Jing wanted us to develop a logo print for him, so we created his art. His project was also very straightforward.

PHOTO GALLERY (35 IMAGES)