One company… three brands

Charterhouse Holdings holds a unique position in our industry, with a focus not solely on either garments or hardware, but a succinct approach to both. With a history rich in garment manufacture, today the company operates as three distinct, separate brands; Kustom Kit, Xpres and Vanilla. P&P editor Melanie Attlesey was invited to spend the day at the brands’ HQ in Castle Donington to find out why these three brands are at the top of their game.

The last 12 months has seen significant changes for all three brands, with new take home messages, new products and new garments all on the agenda.

For Xpres, which started life back in the 1980s supplying sublimation solutions and vinyl cutters, the most recent addition to its portfolio of digital transfer solutions is the Austrian brand, Aeoon. The manufacturer’s flagship model, the Kyo Link, was installed in the Production Suite back in May, a development which sees Xpres begin to make inroads in the industrial print space.

“The addition of Aeoon to our portfolio is the final piece of the jigsaw,” says George Burrows, systems specialist. “We now have a solution for every customer, right from entry-level up to industrial levels of print. We hope to make Aeoon a mainstay of the UK market. We are very excited by this partnership.”

Easy upgrade options

The Kyo Link direct to garment printer was developed for customers with high output needs, for either large runs of the same design or one offs. Its ease of use and maintenance, along with the capability to produce upwards of 180+ shirts an hour, makes it an easy upgrade option for decorators currently running multiple smaller direct to garment printers. Although Xpres only has the Kyo Link on display, customers will be able to purchase from the entire Aeoon catalogue, including the recently released Maikuro direct to garment printer.

To provide visitors with options, also on display in the Production Suite is the Epson SureColor SC-F3000 and Epson SureColor SC-F2100. These DTG printers are geared more towards the mid- and entry-level market with price points to match. A recent upgrade to the SC-F2100 now means that decorators can print directly onto DTF film, which enhances the appeal of this reliable printer. These transfers now mean that decorators can target different markets with promotional products and polyester garments such as hi-vis and sportswear. “The F2100 is a really good machine,” says George. “Epson is unique at its price point, there is nothing else out there on the market like it.”

And speaking of direct to film printing, in the not-too-distant future Xpres plans to introduce its very own roll-fed DTF solution. “Direct to film printing is still in its infancy. It takes time to perfect the process and the solutions,” explains Ryan Hornbuckle, marketing director. “We wanted to make sure we had the perfect solution before we introduced it.” So, keep your eyes peeled for this one.

A widened scope

With the addition of Aeoon to Xpres’ portfolio, the supplier has now widened its scope, and can now not only provide options for start-up businesses and one-man bands, but can also continue to serve long-standing customers as their businesses grow. “We can now supply the right solution for a customer’s business model,” says George. “We talk to our customers, show them what each printer can do for their business and work with them to find a solution that’s right. It’s more of a consultancy sales approach that we provide, rather than a hard sell.”

Next door in the Inspiration Suite is where visitors will find all the heat presses, sublimation and transfers printing options available from Xpres. “Garment decorators sometimes don’t realise the potential of the gifting market. This market boomed during the pandemic and it’s so easy to get involved with,” says George.

Providing inspiration

As the name suggests the showroom has been designed to provide inspiration to decorators, those who may be stuck in a rut and looking for a new direction to take their business. Inspiration and advice is available in spades from a team of experts.

“If you’d asked me 10 to 15 years ago if we would have such a broad range of solutions in our portfolio, I would not have believed you,” says Ryan.

Upstairs, decorators can seek even more inspiration in the Apparel Lab. Decorators will find on display numerous T shirts all decorated with different print methods, vinyls, transfers and inks, showcasing exactly what is possible by just switching media.

Buy less, buy better

The upstairs is also home to the Kustom Kit and Vanilla showrooms.

This year has seen Kustom Kit focus on the ‘buy less, buy better’ mantra to drive home the message that the brand’s garments are built to last.

“All aspect of garment construction is considered during the manufacturing process,” explains Clare Dwyer, product manager. “We test every piece of the fabric to ensure the garments are built to last and fit for purpose. I am really proud of this brand.”

This is evident in The Klassic Polo (KK403 and KK703). This is the brand’s original and first polo shirt. The style and quality has remained unchanged since it was introduced more than 20 years ago. To the point where Clare says that some customers still wear a polo shirt, they purchased over a decade ago. The superior quality of this polo shirt, coupled with its superior wash performance, means this garment really is built to last and ideal for work forces of all shapes and sizes.

The same can also be said of The Premium Oxford Shirt (KK105). This shirt arrived on the scene two years after the KK403 and is also built to last. It’s one of the brand’s best-selling shirts because of its timeless design. Back in the day this shirt was available in 15 colours, but to fit with today’s corporate styling it is available in eight shades.

Answering demand

Vanilla joined the Charterhouse Holding’s brand portfolio in 2018 to answer the demand for more fashionable T shirts suitable for print. Traditionally sublimators were stuck with a basic white polyester T shirt, but this is no longer the case. The design team behind the creation of Vanilla have since injected some much-needed style into sublimation Ts and created a collection that provides the perfect print surface.

This style injection can be seen in products such as the innovative Subli Pocket Tee (VAN105 and VAN405). This style combines a 100% cotton tee with 100% polyester pocket and neck yoke, allowing sublimators to truly get creative. “This tee was definitely a world exclusive!” exclaims Clare.

The range has evolved since 2018 with customer feedback fuelling new designs. New products for 2022 include the Retro Tee (VAN107), the Sweat Short (VAN301) and Sweat Pants (VAN302). Organic cotton options are also available for decorators looking to take a more sustainable approach to their prints.

The same level of quality and attention to detail that has made the Kustom Kit collection so successful, has been applied to the Vanilla range, so customers can expect the best.

Whether you’re new to the industry or have a little bit more experience and not sure where to turn next, given their unique position in the industry the knowledgeable teams at Xpres, Kustom Kit and Vanilla will surely be able to help you along the way.