Business now looking overseas

Ingo Schleuss shows Jordan Macartney how to program and thread a machine.

In 1999 Ingo and Grit Schleuss came to New Zealand from Germany looking for a better lifestyle.

Now, 17 years later they are the proud owners of successful clothing and textile business Kapinua in Levin, known for kitting out New Zealand representative sports teams and now attracting international interest and orders.

The company had outfitted the New Zealand team at the waka ama championships in Australia, where a Hawaiian coach had spotted the unique shirts they were wearing and commissioned a large order for his own teams.

Mr Schleuss said the business had spent the last five or six years developing website technology that allowed customers to design their own garment online, down to the finest detail, as well as using 3D imagery to see how the finished item would look.

Previously they had a more basic design site, but the new platform had the capability to design in 3D - a world first, and the past three years had seen the company working on functions allowing the importing of 3D body scans, or body measurement information, so people would be able to see exactly how a garment would fit on their own body, and make any custom adjustments accordingly.

"It removes the need for so much consultation," said Mr Schleuss. "Previously pattern makers would need to make another pattern and refit [a garment]."

The Levin business also reaches into the German textile market, a country where textile manufacturing was largely outsourced to overseas countries in the 1960s and 70s, resulting in a loss of textile manufacturing knowledge over time, Mr Schleuss said.

Launching a website in German meant Kapinua could tap into a market with 80 million people and less competition than in New Zealand with its much smaller population, he said.

Meanwhile, business back home in New Zealand was going from strength to strength, with word-of-mouth and search engine optimisation on their website driving orders.

The business specialises in customising techniques, including printing custom-made garments, top quality embroidery, designing and making banners and flags, as well as customising and supplying a large range of pre-made garments and textiles.

A team of eight is employed at the busy workshop at Kapinua's main road premises, working across all aspects of production.

"They're loaded with skills and motivation," said Mr Schleuss.

"We've tried to stay true to our core belief - quality customisation and to deliver exceptional products and services for our community and beyond. We owe a huge thanks to our community for joining us on this awesome journey as we have grown."