HP INNOVATION PROVES A WINNING FORMULA FOR RACESAFE - THE EQUESTRIAN APPAREL BRAND AND CUSTOM PRODUCTION

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12 Nov

RACESAFE+-+HPSTITCH+-+TEXINTEL.jpg — “With the correct technology now in place Racesafe have expanded the business further to offer customized printed products online. The platform offers a product customiser tool which enables riders to create and design their own garments and riding accessories in minutes - orders are electronically placed through the online portal and delivered direct to the consumer” JAMES HOW | RACESAFE.

The application of digital technologies continues to drive positive growth for entrepreneurial businesses worldwide, and here in a corner of the UK’s countryside, a British company with an impeccable racing pedigree are leading the field in the competitive equestrian sector.

Racesafe is a British equestrian brand that was founded over 50 years ago. James How, the company’s director now takes the reins following in his grandparent’s footsteps to ensure that the company continues to lead the business into a new digital chapter.

Having manufactured safety equipment and riding apparel for many years, riders now increasingly demand something different from their riding silks and want to stand out – regardless of event. The business supplies a wide variety of clients from independent eventers, pony clubs and onto the equestrian elite where branding delivers a visual identity and is instantly recognizable whether out on the training gallops or viewed at great speed on the racecourse.

Racing silks garments are all manufactured individually and made to order in-house to exacting standards. Brand identity is an important factor for the equestrian community with horses, jockeys and riders instantly identified by the colour of their silks and patterns of their owners, clubs or stables.

Existing print technology was beginning to hold back the development of the business as demand for customisation steadily increased, particularly from the younger generation where personalisation is expected as second nature.

Supervising a new style through the design and manufacturing process, or recreating an existing design requires absolute colour matching with precise management across fabric types and specialised, performance dyed textiles. It also requires the use of spot colours for events and advertising or sponsorship logos. Sampling is a significant overhead and it’s incredibly time consuming - when manufacturing at speed the ability to control colour management across the design and production workflow was becoming increasingly burdensome for the Racesafe team. It was time to invest in a new suite of technology for digital production to serve the growing requirement for customized silks, and so Racesafe began discussions with digital textile expert’s RA Smart on suitable machinery.

Racesafe have recently invested in the HP STITCH S300 dye sublimation printing technology to enable business growth and production efficiency.

The machine has already reduced lead-times by a week and continues to accelerate production. The design and production team now have absolute colour confidence within their manufacturing facility using the HP Stitch’s embedded RIP technology.

With the correct technology now in place Racesafe have expanded the business further to offer customized printed products online. The platform offers a product customiser tool which enables riders to create and design their own garments and riding accessories in minutes - orders are electronically placed through the online portal and delivered direct to the consumer.

“It’s hugely satisfying to see a design that’s been ordered online roll off the printer and follow each unique creation through sewing to become a physical reality – then watch our clients wearing Racesafe sports garments at equestrian events”