Kitsbow continues to pursue lean manufacturing by introducing its Mescal Ventilated Short and Zen Ventilated Cycling Liner at its factory in Old Fort, NC.
“We are proud to launch our first outer short that is made-to-order and hand-sewn in Old Fort,” said David Billstrom, CEO of Kitsbow. “We are committed to a made-to-order, lean manufacturing model. By keeping jobs in the U.S., we strengthen the local economy here in North Carolina, and we also reduce our impact on the planet by avoiding transportation costs.”
Billstrom further explained, “Our team improved the design of the Mescal Ventilated Short with feedback from customers, a process that takes a full year for most brands. By running our production lines in-house, we can deliver the best possible product with the lowest possible waste while at the same time staying nimble and responding quickly to consumer feedback. You can expect more of the same in the future.”
The lightweight tailored men’s Mescal Ventilated Short maximizes airflow featuring stretch-mesh paneling at the waist, rear yoke and behind the knees.
The men’s Zen Ventilated Cycling Liner offers stretch mesh, seven-panel construction for active ventilation. The lightweight nylon compression fabric provides compression, wicking, breathability and can be worn as a liner or alone. The short includes a Cytech chamois pad.
Kitsbow’s made-to-order manufacturing model is part of its commitment to creating apparel sustainably.
TrailCycled is the term it uses to describe its process — creating products, choosing where to make them and shipping and repairing them to stay out of the landfill. Kitsbow uses sustainable packaging with its boxes made from 40 percent recycled content – 25 percent post-consumer minimum – from a box maker near its headquarters. And each packaging component — from garment tags to outer labels — is compostable. And for customers who can’t pick up their order locally, Kitsbow’s shipping bags and boxes are compostable.
Photo courtesy Kitsbow
