Maybe you’ve already come across the term Print on Demand on our website. But what does it actually mean? The direct translation already explains quite a lot: Print on Demand means that a product is printed only when there is demand for it.
The key idea is simple: A garment isn’t printed with our design first and then stored until someone eventually orders it. Instead, it works the other way around:
You order first. Then your piece is printed or embroidered.
The garment already exists - the finished Courthill piece doesn’t
With Print on Demand, brands like Courthill work with companies that offer what are known as blank garments. These are already manufactured T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, bags and other products available in different materials, fits, colors and sizes.
So, for example, a black hoodie in size M may already exist. What doesn’t exist yet is the finished Courthill hoodie in black and size M. Our design is only added once the piece is actually ordered.
So, what do we do?
First, we select the products that fit our CASUAL line. Then we create our own prints and graphics and decide what the finished piece should look like. We can choose between different colors, fits, printing techniques or embroidery and determine the size and placement of each design.
So while the base product already exists, the creative direction that turns it into a Courthill piece comes from us. And yes, the number of options can be surprisingly overwhelming. ;)
What happens when you place an order?
When you order a CASUAL piece, your order is passed on to our Print-on-Demand partner. The appropriate blank garment is selected and then printed or embroidered with the design we previously created and specified. Only after that is the finished piece packed and shipped.
This also means that we don’t have hundreds of finished Courthill hoodies in every size and color sitting in a warehouse. The garment is only printed or embroidered once it has actually been ordered.
One important distinction: Print on Demand does not mean that the entire garment is sewn only after you place your order. The blank garment has already been manufactured - it’s the printing or embroidery that happens on demand.
Why do we use Print on Demand?
For our CASUAL line, this system gives us the freedom to work with different prints, graphics, colors and products without having to produce every design in large quantities in advance.
And this is also where the main difference between CASUAL and our Prêt-à-porter collections comes in.
With Prêt-à-porter, we develop the garment itself: from the initial design and pattern to the fabrics, details, prototypes and, eventually, production.
With Print on Demand, the base product already exists and is transformed into a Courthill CASUAL piece through our designs.
Two different ways of creating fashion - and both are part of Courthill.