{"id":30734,"date":"2026-07-19T07:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T07:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/?p=30734"},"modified":"2026-07-19T07:54:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T07:54:21","slug":"turning-unsold-stock-into-new-collections-jsuh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/turning-unsold-stock-into-new-collections-jsuh\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning Unsold Stock into New Collections with DTG Printing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsold stock has always been part of fashion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forecasts change, and trends move fast. Meanwhile, sizes sell unevenly and returns come back too late to be sold in the original season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For years, many brands treated this as a hidden cost of doing business. Some stock was discounted and stored, while a lot was destroyed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That model is becoming harder to defend.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumers expect better while regulators are acting. Margins are under pressure so brands need smarter ways to use products that already exist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/direct-to-garment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct-to-Garment printing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comes in. Modern textile printing technology allows unsold garments to gain a new life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Key Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsold stock is no longer only an inventory problem. It is a value-creation opportunity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New EU rules are pushing brands to find alternatives to destroying unsold clothing and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/direct-to-fabric-printing-for-footwear-with-kornit-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">footwear.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing helps brands refresh finished garments without re-cutting, re-dyeing, or producing new blanks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit\u2019s on-demand DTG systems and R2R solutions make it easier to turn excess stock into limited collections.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Why Unsold Stock Has Become a Board-Level Issue<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fashion was built around prediction. Brands forecast demand months in advance. They commit to fabric, colors, sizes, trims, and production volumes before they know what shoppers will actually buy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That creates risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A design may be right, but in the wrong color. A garment may be high quality, but tied to a campaign that has already passed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The result is excess inventory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to UNEP*, 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced globally every year. In Europe, regulators estimate that a share of textiles is destroyed before ever being worn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The environmental impact is significant. But the business impact matters too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every unsold garment already carries a cost. Materials were purchased. Labor was paid. Logistics were handled. Warehousing was used. Destroying or heavily discounting that garment removes most of the value that has already been created.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The better question is no longer \u201cHow do we get rid of this?\u201d It is \u201cHow do we make this relevant again?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is Changing in 2026?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation**, new rules are being introduced to stop the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear. Large companies (with $250+ employees or &gt;\u20ac50M turnover) are expected to face the ban from 19 July 2026. Medium-sized companies are expected to follow in 2030.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Companies will also need to disclose information about unsold consumer products they discard. This matters because it changes the role of inventory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsold products can no longer sit at the edge of the business. They now affect compliance, sustainability reporting, brand reputation, and operational planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For fashion brands, the challenge is practical.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They need alternatives that are fast, scalable, and commercially viable. Donation and resale can be part of the answer. So can repair and remanufacturing. But many brands also need a way to turn unsold garments into products that feel new.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is where DTG printing becomes useful.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Can DTG Printing Give Unsold Stock a Second Life?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct-to-Garment printing allows brands and fulfillers to print directly onto finished garments.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A blank hoodie sitting in a warehouse can become part of a new drop.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A basic T-shirt can be refreshed with a regional graphic.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A returned item can be routed into a limited campaign.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A slow-moving style can be turned into a personalized product.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This does not solve every inventory challenge. But it gives brands more options before they lose money on unsold stock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>From Deadstock to New Collections<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strongest use case isn\u2019t simply printing over old products. It\u2019s building a new collection strategy around what already exists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A brand may have 2,000 premium blank sweatshirts left after a season. Instead of selling them at a loss, the brand can create a limited capsule collection. The design can connect to a local event, artist collaboration, fan community, or sustainability story.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That shift is important. Consumers are more likely to respond when the product feels intentional. A second-life collection should be designed, named, photographed, and launched like any other collection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG makes this easier because it removes many of the barriers that come with traditional decoration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no screens to prepare. There is less need to commit to large print quantities. Designs can change quickly. Small batches become realistic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For brands, this opens the door to more agile collection planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-30736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/kornit-atlax-matrix.png\" alt=\"kornit atlax matrix\" width=\"1676\" height=\"938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/kornit-atlax-matrix.png 1676w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/kornit-atlax-matrix-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/kornit-atlax-matrix-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/kornit-atlax-matrix-1536x860.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1676px) 100vw, 1676px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Where Kornit Printers Fit In<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit\u2019s digital textile printing systems are built around on-demand production. That makes them a strong fit for second-life inventory strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit DTG technology allows brands, manufacturers, and fulfillers to decorate garments only when there is a need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kornit\u2019s DTG portfolio supports a wide range of production needs, from premium retail output to industrial workflows. Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS, Atlas MAX POLY, Atlas MATRIX, Presto MAX, Presto MAX PLUS, and Apollo each support different production environments, but the strategic value is similar: print with flexibility, consistency, and speed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For unsold stock, that means brands can move in more efficient steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why This Matters for Sustainability<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reusing unsold stock helps brands make better use of the materials, labor, and energy already invested in each garment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A second-life strategy can reduce the need for new blank production. It can extend the commercial life of existing garments and support more responsible inventory decisions over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/our-impact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sustainable textile printing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may have been a nice addition to your strategy before. Today, it can help you stay compliant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Bigger Shift: From Producing More to Creating More Value<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsold stock won\u2019t disappear overnight. Returns, forecasting gaps, and seasonal shifts will remain part of the industry. But brands now have better tools to manage the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DTG printing gives unsold garments another chance to become relevant. Kornit\u2019s on-demand technology helps make that process creative and commercially practical.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opportunity is clear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brands can reduce waste. Protect margin. Respond to regulations. Build new stories around existing products. And create collections that feel timely without starting from zero while gaining exceptional business opportunities,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn how Kornit\u2019s DTG systems can support more flexible, on-demand production? Let\u2019s talk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/news-and-stories\/press-release\/unsustainable-fashion-and-textiles-focus-international-day-zero\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.unep.org\/news-and-stories\/press-release\/unsustainable-fashion-and-textiles-focus-international-day-zero<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">**<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/green-forum.ec.europa.eu\/implementing-ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/green-forum.ec.europa.eu\/implementing-ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unsold stock has always been part of fashion. Forecasts change, and trends move fast. Meanwhile, sizes sell unevenly and returns come back too late to be sold in the original season. For years, many brands treated this as a hidden cost of doing business. Some stock was discounted and stored, while a lot was destroyed. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[276],"tags":[26,32,130,196],"class_list":["post-30734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insights","tag-direct-to-fabric","tag-dtg","tag-sustainability","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Angora Media","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30734"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30740,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30734\/revisions\/30740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}