Product Hub November 13, 2019
Hexa Debuts Customizable Premium Outerwear
The factory-direct solution, designed specifically for the promo industry, enables distributors to design high-end down jackets from the inside out.
A new player in the promotional products industry, Hexa | Custom (asi/60557) is taking the idea of custom apparel to new heights. The maker of premium outerwear, with headquarters in Boulder, CO, and China, has debuted a platform that allows users to completely customize down jackets and vests, choosing from a variety of size, fit, feature and color options.
“Often, a distributor is limited to branded jackets with few opportunities to customize outside of adding a logo,” says Sue Timbo, general manager of Hexa. “We feel like we’re delivering something that this industry hasn’t seen before.”
Hexa | Custom has invested heavily in technology at the factories it owns, allowing the company to automate many processes and offer fully customizable jackets with no order minimums.
The idea for Hexa’s fully customizable outerwear started in the retail space. The company installed touchscreen kiosks at eight high-end outdoor stores across the country. Users could design and order their own jacket in a matter of minutes, then have it shipped directly to their home in a few weeks. Soon after launching, Hexa began receiving inquiries about higher-quantity orders, so execs started to explore the market potential of the promotional products industry.
“This is a huge industry, and there’s a lot of potential for innovation,” Timbo says.
Hexa spent about eight months developing its factory-direct solution, designed specifically for distributors, before launching its proprietary ordering platform this fall. The system features a software-driven production line with integrated mechanics, powered by a white-label online ordering system. There are no minimum order quantities, and orders of 300 units or less are delivered within three weeks. As distributors design their products, the platform produces virtual samples in real time, showing all angles, as well as the jacket interior.
Hexa | Custom can customize its premium outerwear in 23 different colors.
Hexa offers three premium base products: a puffy down jacket, a standard down jacket and a down vest. Each has men’s and women’s sizing from XXS to XXXL and can be tailored with either a slim, regular or full fit. Sleeve length can be short, regular or long. In addition, each jacket is divided into seven panels, each of which can be customized in one of 23 on-trend hues.
“The color is what really brings it to life,” Timbo says.
Distributors can also specify things like down fill power (essentially the loft of the jacket), add a hood or chest pocket and select the zipper color. There are four decoration areas for logos or other graphics.
Distributors can even specify the zipper color of the jackets they design.
Timbo sees nothing but growth potential for Hexa, thanks to consumers’ unflagging desire for highly personalized experiences and products.
“People are tired of investing in products that don’t have a long lifespan or don’t fit properly. The expectations from the end consumers … are increasing,” Timbo says. “It’s our responsibility as an industry to elevate and continue to serve these really innovative brand experiences for our clients.”
Listen to our conversation with Timbo below:
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