Episode 256 - Revolutionizing Garment Decoration: The Digital Transformation of Fashion

Phil Oakley takes us on a fascinating journey through the garment decoration industry, revealing a sector surprisingly behind the digital curve despite enormous potential for transformation. Drawing on four decades of experience across printing technologies, Oakley illuminates why he founded On Point Supply to tackle inefficiencies plaguing fashion supply chains.

The statistics he shares are eye-opening: of the 600 million t-shirts consumed annually in the UK, half bear decorations, yet only 70 million are produced through digital processes. The remaining 230 million rely on traditional methods, generating a staggering 40,000 tons of CO2 yearly. This disconnect between modern retail demands and outdated production methods creates a perfect storm of inefficiency, environmental impact, and missed opportunity.

What makes Oakley's perspective so valuable is his laser focus on workflow efficiency beyond just printing technology. He describes the evolution from a triangle of print value (image quality, speed, cost) to a square that now includes versatility. Throughout our conversation, he unpacks the fragmented software landscape where no single solution addresses all challenges for bulk production, requiring consultants like himself to identify specific pain points rather than attempting wholesale system replacement.

Perhaps most compelling is his comparison of the fashion industry to a car with a Tesla exterior (sleek e-commerce front-end) powered by a gas-guzzling Cadillac engine (outdated production processes). This visual perfectly captures why brands struggle with bloated inventories and unsustainable practices despite sophisticated consumer-facing technology.

Ready to explore how digital transformation could revolutionise your garment decoration business? Connect with Phil on LinkedIn or visit onpointsupply.co.uk to learn how focusing on workflow efficiency might be the key to reducing costs, minimising environmental impact, and meeting the demands of today's rapidly changing fashion landscape.

FuturePrint Events:

FuturePrint TECH: Industrial Print: 21-22 January '26, Munich, Germany