How digital technology enables Contrado to Manufacture Personalised Sportswear, Apparel, Textiles an

Debbie McKeegan speakes to Contrado who utilises digital technologies to manufacture a wide range of personalised products. Using the latest digital technologies allows Contrado to create personalised sportswear, apparel, textiles and accessories on demand.

Founded over 20 years ago by Chris Childs and Fran Rodriguez in 2002, Contrado is based in London, UK, and utilises digital technologies to manufacture an extensive range of personalised products. As technology has evolved, they have strategically invested in the latest technologies to ensure super-fast efficient production speeds across a wide range of product groups.

The business is customer facing, serving business-to-business and direct-to-consumer clients, and the customer experience is at the forefront of their success. With an integrated web to print platform, the client can upload, adjust and create multiple products in minutes for delivery in a very short timescale. Drop ship via API is also available enabling creatives to offer a wide range of products for purchase online without the requirement for finished, printed sewn stock.

With a diverse product range that includes Sportswear, Athleisure, Interior accessories as well as fabrics by the metre - automation streamlines the manufacturing process. Customers can preview their products using advanced 3D software. The company are also exploring Web3 and the potential offered by digital fashion. Going further, the company also utilise data and interactions to generate tailored recommendations, up-sells and associated products for mass customisation.

Caption: “The business is customer facing, serving business-to-business and direct-to-consumer clients, and the customer experience is at the forefront of their success”. Credit: Contrado

Their product customiser offers a sophisticated, yet simple method of product personalisation, each part of the garment can be adjusted by uploading design patterns to create unique iterations in minutes. The system is also smart and will alert the consumer when files do not meet the required image quality for printed production.

Built with the customer in mind, the system (and business) ensures that final output – regardless of product meets the clients expectation.

Products are available in a wide variety of fabrics using a wide array of printing technologies, direct to fabric, dye sublimation and transfer are all deployed within their factory workflow. As technology has evolved, they have continually invested to ensure that products are created using sustainable process, materials and equipment where possible.

The company manufactures all of its products in house, in doing so they have accurate control of their processes internally, all of which ensures that they can address the challenges of colour management and product quality. They truly offer an impressive, end-to-end manufacturing facility and as such remain centred to offer a solution that differentiates them from their competitors.

Caption: “Constantly innovating, as pioneers they remain at the forefront of customised, personalised product manufacturing and as such have aided the democratisation of the creative and on-demand apparel industry”. Credit: Contrado

Focussed on sustainability, their business model and production methods deliver an environmental solution for products manufactured on demand. Reducing waste throughout the manufacturing cycle, products are rigorously monitored and tested to ensure that they meet their own stringent internal standards as well as industry regulations across all aspects of manufacture and supply. All of which collectively - delivers a smart, sustainable method of manufacturing.

Service is in sharp focus at Contrado. Their business is built to offer and deliver customer satisfaction. As they have grown, they have invested in automated function to enable them to scale at speed. During the pandemic, it was this organisational infrastructure that enabled them to double production on-demand.

Contrado remain privately owned, they are in full control of their business and as such can fine-tune their commercial activities and future strategy in line with their own vision.

Constantly innovating, as pioneers they remain at the forefront of customised, personalised product manufacturing and as such have aided the democratisation of the creative and on-demand apparel industry. Their creative community is at the heart of their success, their investment and support for their loyal consumers has encouraged entrepreneurship to enable the micro-brand and many SME businesses to flourish.

Their passion, dedication and drive will ensure that their business evolves to meet the demands of a new creative generation and a new landscape for customised product manufacture.