The digital textile printing market continues to expand, as the benefits of inkjet printing as well as new technological improvements are leading more garment manufacturers to use digital printers. In particular, direct-to-film and direct-to-garment applications are gaining momentum. Chien-Yu Lin, senior segment manager, Mimaki USA, reports that the digital textile printing market is expected to grow at a strong 7.20% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.

Paul Edwards, VP of the Digital division at INX International Ink Co., says the digital textile printing market continues to grow, and is supported by strong demand for sustainable, customizable, and rapid textile printing solutions. 

“This growth varies by region and methodology, but most estimates point to CAGR rates between 7 to 14% over the coming years,” Edwards notes.

Lily Hunter, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc., says that Epson America is continuing to see growth in the digital textile printing market, driven by increasing demand for direct-to-film (DTFilm) technology. 

“DTFilm provides garment decorators and artisan makers with greater versatility, enabling high-quality transfers onto a wider range of fabrics and soft goods products, including uniquely shaped items, such as shoes, and offering the opportunity to expand a print shop’s product offerings and revenue opportunities,” Hunter says. 

Hunter points out that sublimation and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing continue to play an important role in the textile market and are expected to remain integral for years to come. 

“As demand for product customization grows, more print shops are bringing sublimation and DTG textile production in-house to better control print quality, lead times, turnaround and customer satisfaction, further fueling market growth,” Hunter notes.

Daniel Valade, senior product manager, Roland DGA, observes that the digital textile printing market continues to grow at a steady pace, driven by shifts in consumer demand and advancements in printing technology. 

“Printers like the Roland DG’s TY-300 direct-to-film printer and VersaSTUDIO BY-20 desktop DTF printer are two good examples of advanced, easy-to-use, and cost-effective devices that are helping to drive this growth,” adds Valade. 

“On the high-production side, the TY-300 meets the needs of textile manufacturers who demand speed, scale, and flexibility in fabric decoration,” Valade notes. “Meanwhile, the BY-20 makes digital textile printing accessible to small businesses, start-ups, and even design studios by combining compact size, ease of use, and professional-quality results,” Valade notes. Together, these innovations highlight how digital textile printing is expanding across both industrial and entry-level segments.”

The Ricoh DTG team reports that the digital textile printing market is expanding as businesses of all sizes, from small custom shops to large brands, recognize its benefits for efficiency, customization, and sustainability. The Ricoh team adds that direct-to-garment (DTG) printers like the Ricoh Ri 4000, which offers high-quality, high-volume production, are helping to drive this trend.

Key Markets for Digital Textile Printing

Apparel, home decor and soft signage continue to be the major markets for digital textile printing. Hunter says the largest market for digital textile printing is personalized soft goods, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, active wear, and accessories, including fabric hats, tote bags and socks. 

“One example of this market is sports teams that sell blank jerseys in their team stores and allow customers to personalize them by choosing a player’s name and number at the time of purchase,” Hunter observes. “Once selected, the player’s name and number are heat-pressed onto the jersey. Having the ability to customize on-demand reduces the risk of overstocking or understocking pre-printed inventory.”  

Yin notes that historically, the serviceable addressable market (SAM) for dye sublimation has spanned three major categories: signage (for events, residential/commercial properties, businesses); facilities – on either fabric or metallic media; fashion (especially athleisure, cycling jerseys, soccer kits, high fashion clothing – any apparel where vibrant colors are highly desired); and brand ambassadorship, personal soft goods, and homeware (promotional giveaways, mugs/tumblers, eyewear cases and microfiber cloths, mousepads, scarves, socks, tote bags/handbags, pillows/home decor accent pieces, beach towels, blankets, curtains).

“While all of the images and designs are produced by a dye sublimation printer – like Mimaki’s newest offering, the TS200-1600 – the heat transfer process depends on the status of end-product,” Lin adds. “Thus, the heat transfer process can be a design overlay onto a finished product (leatherette-covered notebook), on a flat pattern (coverage over a soccer kit pattern – a cut & sew application), and onto bolts of fabric (another cut & sew application).”

Edwards observes that both geography and application play a factor. 

“Asia Pacific has historically been the largest producer of textiles,” he adds. “They continue to do so but are aggressively adopting digital print because there is significant growth in digital fashion and apparel. Volume-wise, fashion and apparel are the largest sectors, followed by home decor. The likely fastest growing sector is direct-to-garment (DTG), which is showing proportionately good growth in the United States and Europe.” 

Valade says that the largest markets for digital textile printing are the following:

• Fashion and Apparel: Fast fashion brands and boutique designers rely on digital printing for rapid sampling, short-run production, and the ability to launch new designs without large inventory commitments.

• Sportswear and Activewear: With fabrics like polyester blends dominating this category, dye-sublimation printers as well as direct-to-film solutions like Roland DG’s TY-300 have become essential.

• Home Décor and Soft Signage: Curtains, upholstery, banners, and exhibition graphics benefit from the vibrant color and durability of digital printing.

• Promotional and Custom Goods: The Roland DG VersaSTUDIO BY-20 desktop direct-to-film printer serves this sector well, enabling short runs of T-shirts, tote bags, and other personalized merchandise.

The Ricoh DTG team says the largest markets are primarily fashion and apparel, followed by home decor (such as curtains, canvas, bedding, and upholstery) and soft signage (like banners and flags). The demand for unique, customized, and on-demand products in these sectors drives a lot of the market’s size.

Up and Coming Markets for Digitally Printing Textiles

There are plenty of new applications that are helping to drive growth in the industry. Victoria Harris, senior textile segment specialist for Mimaki USA, notes that in the US, Mimaki is seeing significant growth in the e-commerce space, particularly in mass customization of blank goods and fabric-by-the-yard for both direct-to-consumer and B2B business models. 

“At the same time, the current tariff situation has accelerated a shift in the home décor textile design market,” Harris points out. “Many businesses that previously outsourced production overseas now find the costs and lead times unsustainable. As a result, they are investing in domestic printing equipment, which allows them to take full control of their supply chain. Beyond fabric printing, many of these companies are expanding into small cut-and-sew applications—such as decorative pillows—positioning their products for high-end retail markets.”

 “In addition to the high-volume areas I mentioned, DTG is a fast-growing market and so are technical and industrial fabrics such as automotive interiors, medical fabrics, and specialized outdoor gear,” Edwards notes.

Valade says that several emerging applications are fueling the next wave of growth in digital textile printing, including on-demand microfactories, sustainable textiles, interior customization and hybrid production.

“Smaller-scale production hubs use compact, affordable DTF printers like the VersaSTUDIO BY-20 to deliver localized, just-in-time production,” Valade adds. “Eco-conscious brands are adopting digital workflows that reduce water and energy usage compared to traditional textile printing. From bespoke furniture fabrics to custom wallcoverings, designers are increasingly using digital printing to provide unique, high-margin products.Facilities are combining large-format direct-to-film units, like the TY-300, with smaller desktop-sized DTF printers, such as the VersaSTUDIO BY-20, to service both industrial contracts and niche markets under one roof.”

Ricoh’s DTG team reports that some up-and-coming markets include athletic and performance wear, medical and healthcare textiles, and promotional products such as custom bags, towels, and other fabric-based promotional items that are becoming more popular.

“Growing markets for digital textile printing include fashion with on-demand and limited-edition collections, sports and activewear customization, and promotional products for corporate branding and home décor, such as custom couch covers, pillows, drapes and more,” says Hunter.  

“We are also seeing some non-traditional markets emerge, including theater and set design and SEG hospitality applications,” Hunter adds. “Both allow for customized artwork that can match a current decor style or season that is cost-efficient, can be easily installed, then cleaned, stored and reused. Dye-sublimation SEG graphics are also great for restaurants or hallways as some fabric can help to naturally dampen sound, serving as both an aesthetically pleasing and functional piece.” 

Tariffs and Digital Textile Printing

The threat of new tariffs is a wild card for digital textile manufacturers. On the one hand, equipment prices may go up, but it may lead to more localized production opportunities. Hunter says that tariffs will affect businesses differently. 

“People are still printing, and print shops still need equipment,” adds Hunter. “Earlier this year, we saw a slight increase in sales due to businesses choosing to replace their older equipment early in an attempt to avoid pending tariffs.”

“Like all industries, tariffs are a complex consideration as they are fluid and industry-, product-, and source nation-specific,” says Lin. “Mimaki will comply with US tariff policies, and will always act with the printing industry in mind.”

Roland DGA’s Valade says that tariffs on imported textiles, garments, or decorated goods can accelerate the adoption of digital printing in local markets. 

“By making foreign-made, mass-produced products more expensive, tariffs encourage brands and entrepreneurs to bring more production in-house or closer to their consumer base,” Valade reports. “Compact, affordable solutions like the VersaSTUDIO BY-20 desktop direct-to-film printer make this shift feasible for smaller businesses, while higher-capacity DTF printers like the TY-300 allow domestic producers to remain competitive at scale. Ultimately, tariffs can act as a catalyst for reshoring or nearshoring, further supporting the growth of digital textile printing.”

Ricoh’s DTG team reports that tariffs can play a significant role in the sector. 

“They can increase the cost of imported digital textile printers, parts, ink, and even blank garments,” the Ricoh DTG team notes. “The largest markets are primarily fashion and apparel, followed by home decor and soft signage. The demand for unique, customized, and on-demand products in these sectors drives a lot of the market’s size. This can affect the profitability of printing businesses and may lead to price adjustments for the end consumer in the upcoming period.”

“The imposed tariffs are likely to have some positive impact on the acceleration and adoption of digital print in more developed markets,” Edwards notes. “Assuming the tariff levels are high in countries such as India and China, this would have an impact on the economics of onshoring textile production via the digital process. I think this will not be a step change. Instead, it will be a positive driver for the onshoring of digital textile production.”