Touch Printing Republic Co, an on-demand printing service firm, has started a co-working space for textile designers and plans to launch a design-to-print online marketplace platform.
The space serves both designers who want to print and sell their work, as well as consumers who want to create and print their own do-it-yourself (DIY) pieces.
"Users require more customised products, and this is an opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to make products serving a variety of preferences," said Jack Min Intanate, founder of SVOA Plc and IT City, which hold a two-thirds stake in Touch Printing Republic.
Mr Jack, who is also an angel investor, said mass customisation will become a growing trend in textiles, and unique designs printed digitally can serve the personalised products market.
"The company invested 10 million baht to open a co-working space to draw designers, youngsters and startups that have ideas and would like to have their own products or want to use digital textile or large-format printing," said Kittipoom Anutarapinyovong, chief executive of Touch Printing Republic Co.
With registered capital of 50 million baht, Touch Printing is a 150-sq-m co-working space located on Phatthanakan Road. It provides free tools for users to transform ideas into products in small volumes.
"If the designers' businesses grow, they can use the on-demand printing service and buy a large-format printer in the future," Mr Kittipoom said.
Large-format printing can print various materials for use in fashion, decoration and corporate premium products such as glasses, hats, shirts and sportswear for sport events.
This year the company will launch its website and mobile application for a designer marketplace for personalised items. The platform will also let designers and consumers order prints in bulk, with shipment and payment systems also available. Consumers can design and order DIY products for print as well.
Yunyong Muneemongkoltorn, general manager of Epson Thailand, said the intense labour costs and workforce, plus time-to-market and competitiveness, force businesses to embrace digital printing to increase productivity.
Digital printing technology offers cost-effective productivity, suitable for low-volume printings mixed with graphic-design-related products, he said.
"We see that digital printing is best for 1-30,000 units, but if the number is higher, traditional printing is better," Mr Yunyong said.
Overall large-format printer sales in Thailand last year were about 1,000 units.
"The digital textile business has potential to continue with double-digit growth and capture 10-15% market share in the overall textile industry," Mr Yunyong said.