A “waterless” revolution in textiles: A model collaboration for the Ergene Basin from Ayyildiz woven fabrics and Epson

Deploying technology against the water crisis in the Tekirdağ Ergene Basin, Ayyıldız Woven Fabrics has broken new ground in Türkiye by integrating Epson Monna Lisa 64000 digital printing technology into its production line. As a solution partner to export giants, the company is reducing its water footprint while offering high-speed, sustainable production to the “fast fashion” world through its strategic partnership with Epson.

Specializing in natural fibers and exporting 80% of its production to 40 different countries—primarily to the INDITEX group, as well as Germany, the USA, and the UK—Ayyıldız Woven Fabrics has raised the bar in digital transformation. Operating in the Ergene Basin, considered the heart of textile production yet suffering from severe water shortages, the company became the first in Türkiye to install and actively use Epson’s advanced Monna Lisa 64000 model to minimize water consumption and standardize production quality.

“Legacy Technologies Were Not Sustainable”

Stating that they approach sustainability not just as a trend but as “total process management,” Ayyıldız Woven Fabrics Co-founder Emre Oğulu emphasized that they experienced quality and continuity issues in previous trials with different brands. Oğulu said, “We had to shift to pigment printing due to the water shortage in the region. In trials with Chinese-origin machines, we couldn’t manage the quality, and it was evident the process wasn’t sustainable. At that exact point, Epson stepped in and offered not just a machine, but a vision”.

The Meeting of Technology and Design: “We Call It Da Vinci”

Noting that, thanks to the Epson’s leading edge technologies featured in the printer, they achieved uninterrupted and high-quality standards in production following the Epson Monna Lisa 64000 investment, Emre Oğulu mentioned they nicknamed the machine “Da Vinci” within the factory.

Oğulu explained the reason for this analogy: “You can clearly see Italian design touching Japanese technology in the Epson Monna Lisa. Thanks to pigment ink technology, we significantly reduced our water and energy consumption while gaining incredible momentum in sampling and production speed. Just 8 months after buying the first machine, we invested in a second one to keep up with increasing demand and maintain this quality”.

Epson: Not a Supplier, but a Strategic Partner

Emphasizing that during the collaboration process, Epson acted not merely as a machine supplier but as a “partner” involved in every stage of production with its technical staff, Oğulu stated: “This investment gave us courage as a Turkish company competing in the global market. The synergy we captured with Epson empowers us in our sustainable production goals”.

About Epson Monna Lisa 64000

Epson’s flagship in digital textile printing, the Monna Lisa 64000, offers high speed and precision with 64 PrecisionCore printheads. Especially thanks to its use of pigment ink, it eliminates water-intensive processes such as post-print washing, minimizing environmental impact.

Key features of the machine include:

• High-speed operation with 64 printheads
• Low water and energy consumption thanks to advanced Genesta pigment ink technology
• Vivid, detailed, and durable prints on natural fibers
• Long-lasting printhead design ensuring stable performance
• Wide color gamut and high accuracy