The «Furnishings» section of the «INTERFABRIC» exhibition impresses each season with a wide variety of products and services on display – exclusive, high-quality items designed for various segments of the textile industry. Here, you can find everything needed for the creation of clothing, footwear, home textiles, and other products: from buttons and zippers to lace, embroidery, appliqués, and other decorative elements. Special attention is given to innovative solutions and technologies: companies showcase their latest developments in the field of accessories, offering materials with enhanced properties, improved durability, and longevity.

Labels traditionally occupy a prominent place in the exposition. These small pieces of paper that once merely accompanied goods have now become carriers of a product’s and manufacturer’s philosophy. Much can be said on this topic by the company «A2-Etiketki» – a long-time exhibitor at «INTERFABRIC» that consistently presents interesting and in many ways unique examples of its products. This autumn, the company will once again take its place at the exhibition at stand 11H26.

Product branding using pad and UV printing, silk screen printing, die-cutting and embossing, digital roll-to-roll printing, various applications on ribbons, jacquard weaving, lamination and spot varnishing including 3D, high-quality printing of modern POS materials, and creative design development – all of this defines «A2-Etiketki», a full-cycle printing company based in St. Petersburg. We spoke with project manager Igor Valentinovich Gusev about the company’s operations and why it has become a regular participant in «INTERFABRIC».

– How did the brand’s story begin? Why did you choose this particular industry?

– The company has been around for over 20 years. It all began with personal experience working in garment manufacturing, which is a huge advantage in this field. The name «A2-Etiketki» was chosen deliberately and holds special meaning: “A” is the first letter of the alphabet – a symbol of leadership; “2” represents collectivism, which is one of the company’s core values. Our motto is: “A label is a trifle. Your name on the label is a LEGACY!” – a phrase that reflects our approach to work. Personally, I’m drawn to this field because it always allows space for creativity.

– What are the core products in your assortment? Which are the most in demand?

– Our product range includes labeling for garment products (clothing labels) and printing services in a broader sense, including providing services to other print houses – for example, UV varnishing, die-cutting, etc. We also invest in advertising to balance out our core areas of activity and ensure full equipment utilization.

– What can you tell us about your production?

– Our production is located in St. Petersburg, and we have a staff of about 60 people. Unfortunately, we still rely mostly on imported raw materials. To ensure high-quality and stable order fulfillment for our clients, we’ve implemented internal regulations that define operational workflows. These are discussed collectively before implementation to consider all perspectives. The goal of these regulations is to streamline work without “putting people in a straitjacket,” allowing room for independent decision-making on the job.

– How does your design department operate?

– The design department also works within the framework of internal regulations. The designers primarily handle technical design – preparing layouts for weaving and printing. Creative tasks are handled as separate projects, where not only designers but also project “clients” from among the staff, technologists, and sales personnel are involved.

A separate direction is the rethinking of clients’ brand identity – when we proactively develop branding concepts for our clients, supported by technological solutions and tangible samples.

– Is there a particular project that stands out – especially complex or interesting?

– The most memorable projects are those that brought real change to the company – for example, the implementation of an automation system and synchronization of our 1C software with the 1C systems of several of our key clients. One of our latest major initiatives was launching a loyalty program.

– You offer trademark registration services. What resources are involved, and how often do companies use this service?

– We’ve collaborated with a legal firm that specializes in trademark registration. However, most of our clients are fairly “mature” businesses that tend to handle such matters on their own.

– How do you approach seasonal assortment updates? What new or popular products do you plan to present at «INTERFABRIC»?

– We are constantly experimenting with new materials, technologies, and ideas. Not every experiment results in a marketable product, but each one certainly expands our technological know-how and makes our offering richer and more diverse.

– Why did you decide to participate in «INTERFABRIC»?

– We evaluate the effectiveness of exhibitions based on visitor feedback at our stand and the orders placed during and after the event. «INTERFABRIC» has proven to be the most effective!