In 2018, the commercial embroidery services industry achieved a significant milestone after breaking the $1-billion revenue ceiling for the first time ever. That was something of a minor miracle considering that growth for the century-old sector has been anemic due to manufacturers being slow to adapt to changing technology compounded by the industry wide trend of large apparel companies integrating embellishment processes in their operations.
Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that the feat was achieved at a time when the industry is going through a revolution of sorts. It’s not very often that a new textile technology gets recognition from a giant regional body like the European Commission. But that’s exactly what happened in 2017 when Swedish textile technology innovator, Coloreel, received a $2.1-million euro grant from the European Commission to develop and commercialize Embroline, the company’s instant thread coloring technology for the textiles industry.
Embroline Technology
Embroline is a unique, standalone and ground breaking technology that enables high-quality instant coloring of textile using the same thread being used for textile production. Embroline is highly versatile and can be used with virtually any embroidery machine with no need for any modifications. By instantly coloring the base thread during production, Embroline adds an extra layer of freedom allowing the designer to create unique embroideries without the usual limitations to color. Color changes can either be rapid or gradual since Embroline allows a smooth transition to any color depending on the user’s preference.
According to Joakim Staberg, Coloreel founder and Embroline inventor, the new technology will open up an entirely new world for textile designers by eliminating the challenge of handling large stocks of thread reels as well as the tiresome and time-consuming task of rethreading of embroidery machines. Embroline’s value proposition is clear: no spool replacement means minimal wastage and minimal lockstitches required leading to higher embroidery quality.
The versatile solution has the potential to kickstart growth and multiply revenue and profits. Bjarne Hammer, Colreel CEO, says that interest in the revolutionary technology is immense with high-fashion brands and some of the world’s largest apparel manufacturers having contacted the company. Coloreel has already contacted Finnish contract manufacturer, Scanfil, to start building the first Embroline units in Åtvidaberg, Sweden.
The future of the embroidery industry seems bright considering that embroidery digitization is possible on all types of garments, fabrics, apparels and a wide range clothing accessories. With Embroline, the slow-moving embroidery services industry has received a much-needed shot in the arm. This looks like an exciting time to be in an industry that appears poised for rejuvenated growth.
