A. M. 
• For El Salvador’s textile and apparel industry, which exported US$2.09 billion in 2024, it is essential to have technology that guarantees high-speed production, image quality, and a seamless workflow.
• Epson and the fashion hub MIOS joined forces in the “Print your mark, make it MIOS” fashion competition, presenting capsule collections by six designers who used sublimation technology for their production.
For many years, El Salvador has been considered a textile-based nation, as a significant portion of its total manufacturing exports correspond to this sector. Furthermore, according to the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) represent a major boost to the economic structure of countries like El Salvador and generate thousands of jobs in the country.
However, like other Latin American countries, one of the challenges MSMEs face in staying in the market is leveraging new technologies to promote a constant innovation process and gain the opportunity to expand into other markets outside their countries of operation.
Just like micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, a segment that is gaining ground in El Salvador, also face challenges related to technological innovation that are key to sustainable growth.
For this reason, Epson and the fashion hub MIOS, founded in El Salvador more than five years ago, joined forces within the framework of the “Creating a Show Together” event, held in San Salvador on September 10. The objective was to provide an opportunity for more than 40 designers brought together by MIOS, many of them entrepreneurs and MSMEs, to take advantage of the knowledge and benefits of digital sublimation technology.
As part of the initiative, an internal competition, “Imprime tu huella, hazlo MIOS”, was organized. After six weeks of work, four fashion designers and two accessories’ designers were selected as finalists. They received training and used Epson technology to develop their collections, inspired by salvadoran nature, landscaping, and the architecture of churches and towns.
These proposals were presented on a runway during the “Creating a Show Together” event, thus reaffirming MIOS and Epson’s commitment to promoting the Salvadoran fashion industry and showcasing the creative talent of its designers.
From this group of finalist designers, one winner was chosen for apparel, Astrid Molina, with the «Paraíso azul», collection, and one for accessories, Dulce Rivas, with the «Alturas eternas», collection. Both designers received Epson’s sponsorship of fabric sublimation for their next clothing and accessories collection.
“The fashion show is a unique showcase to demonstrate how Epson technology transforms into creativity and real business opportunities. Our goal is to inspire salvadoran designers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs to prove that sustainable fashion is possible: with unique, personalized designs, produced more efficiently and with a lower environmental impact. Through this runway, we can unite technological innovation with local talent, demonstrating that together we can promote a more sustainable and forward-thinking fashion industry”, said Bryan López, regional manager of Epson’s Industrial vertical for NOLA.
In the daily lives of business owners and entrepreneurs in sectors such as textiles, promotional items, architecture, photography, and advertising, it is essential to have products and solutions that guarantee quality, optimize resource and energy consumption, and meet high sustainability standards.
The dynamism of the textile and apparel industry in El Salvador is remarkable; in 2024, its exports reached US$2.09 billion, according to data from CAMTEX. Given this scenario, it is essential that the sector has solutions that offer high production speeds, superior image quality, and a seamless workflow.
“The fashion show is a unique showcase for how Epson technology transforms into creativity and real business opportunities. Our goal is to inspire Salvadoran designers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs to prove that sustainable fashion is possible: with unique, personalized designs, produced more efficiently and with a lower environmental impact. Through this runway, we can unite technological innovation with local talent, demonstrating that together we can drive a more sustainable and forward-thinking fashion industry”, said Bryan López, regional manager of Epson’s Industrial vertical for NOLA.
“During the ‘Creating a Show Together’ event, we will showcase our most innovative solutions in digital textile printing, sublimation, and large-format printing (eco-solvent, UV, resin, technical, and photography). These technologies, designed for sectors such as fashion, advertising, graphic design, and retail, allow attendees to optimize processes, create unique brand experiences, and offer more sustainable products in the creative industry,” said Daniela Menéndez, Specialized Channels Manager for Epson’s Industrial vertical.
María José Díaz, founder of MIOS, commented that “this opportunity represents a bridge between fashion, technology, and creativity. It is a platform that unites innovation, entrepreneurship, and art. Our goal is to create memorable experiences for designers and clients through Epson’s innovative technology, while also offering a creative spectacle. In this way, we seek to promote and market Latin American fashion design through our platform. We seek to bring brands, sponsors, and strategic allies for future events, inspiring with new ideas and trends applied to fashion, art, and design”.
As part of the partnership between Epson and MIOS, the 4th edition of Voices by MIOS was held on September 11th. This initiative aims to promote learning, dialogue, and appreciation of Latin American design from a holistic perspective. With the participation of industry experts and Epson product specialists, attendees were able to experiment with all the textile printing technologies presented by the brand.
