TORONTO – As a leader in fashion education, George Brown College is pleased to announce the launch of the Leading Innovation in Fashion Technology (FX LIFT) lab, a first of its kind facility enabling sustainable design and production innovation.
The FX LIFT lab incorporates the latest technology to enhance fashion, apparel and textile industry innovation and competitiveness. Housed in George Brown’s Fashion Exchange (FX), the lab enables fashion companies to access lean manufacturing and advanced technology to locally produce unique designs and improve sustainability though waste reduction.
The lab includes a suite of cutting-edge technologies for teaching, research and industry projects. Epson Canada, a global printing technology leader, partnered with FX to introduce its dye sublimation printer for custom textile printing. The lab also includes a Trotec laser cutter capable of cutting and engraving textiles, ZSK technical embroidery machines designed to embroider circuits for development of wearable electronics or smart textiles and a Passen 3D digital fitting booth.
“We are excited about the potential to advance fashion industry transformation. Implementation of these new technologies provide local industry with access to equipment to conduct research, to integrate innovation and bring their products to the market faster,” says Marilyn McNeil-Morin, Director, George Brown Fashion Exchange. “With the launch of the FX LIFT lab, we are helping to transform the Canadian fashion industry by supporting the adoption of digital manufacturing technologies and new sustainable approaches to design.”
The lab will also provide enhanced skills development to ensure that more job-ready graduates enter the market and advance the fashion sector’s adoption of new approaches, methods, standards and technologies.
“The FX LIFT lab is bringing the most advanced, fabric printing capability to the Canadian fashion sector. We are pleased to be playing an important role in the training of a new generation of fashion designers with this emerging technology,” said Mark Radogna, Strategic Marketing, Epson America, Inc. “This equipment enhances creativity by allowing designers to test new fabric designs in an affordable and sustainable manner while dramatically reducing the time from conception to production. We are delighted to be partnered with George Brown College’s Fashion program to bring the FX LIFT lab to life.”
The George Brown College Fashion Exchange (FX) aims to model and foster innovative, ethical, environmentally and socially sustainable production. It’s a vibrant hub where fashion education, design, production, research and engagement converge under one roof. FX brings together fashion educators, industry partners, community organizations and fashion graduates to innovate for an increasingly sustainable, socially-conscious and economically vibrant fashion industry.
About George Brown College
Toronto’s George Brown College prepares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research and entrepreneurship opportunities. George Brown offers 171 full-time programs and 200 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to more than 31,500 full-time students, including 27 per cent international students, and receives more than 65,000 continuing education registrations annually. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to becoming indispensable to society by connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. The company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics. Epson is proud of its contributions to realizing a sustainable society and its ongoing efforts to realizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than U.S. $10 billion.
Epson America, Inc., based in Long Beach, Calif., is Epson’s regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson Canada, please visit: epson.ca. You may also connect with Epson Canada on Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonCanada) and YouTube (youtube.com/EpsonCanada).
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For more information, please contact:
Rima Kar
External Communications Specialist
Office: (416) 415-5000 ext. 4791
