The family-owned company Co. Andraz d.o.o. from Celje, Slovenia, founded in 1989, has grown from a small children’s clothing shop into a recognized manufacturer of sports and leisure apparel. Today, they employ around 40 people and keep nearly the entire process in-house—from concept and cutting to sewing, decoration, and final quality control.
Their brand “And by Andraz,” registered 35 years ago, represents a blend of family tradition and modern textile technology. Their first major breakthrough came in the early 1990s when they began producing ski suits—technically demanding, complex products that opened the doors to the sports apparel market. Over time, they expanded into cycling gear and cotton products, with cycling being the key driver behind their investment in sublimation printing.
“Our specialty is that everything is sewn in Europe. We cut and sew most of the products in our Celje facility. When orders exceed our capacity, we outsource some sewing to partners—including those in Croatia—but the entire process stays within Europe,” emphasizes Mr. Andraz Spat.
N.C.R. Ljubljana – A Reliable Partner for Nine Years
Printing is an auxiliary but important segment of their business. Initially, they relied on external partners, but growing demand and the need for rapid prototyping prompted them to invest in their own equipment. They now have an Audaces CNC, a Monti Antonio calendar (160 cm width), OptiTex software, and for printing they use sublimation, embroidery, and flex films.
Their key partner in printing is N.C.R., a long-standing distributor of Mutoh printers and sublimation materials. As Mr. Spat explains, N.C.R. offers fast and reliable technical support as well as expertise in technology.
They have been working with Mutoh sublimation printers for nine years. Mutoh’s ValueJet and XpertJet printers are known in the industry for reliability, high productivity, and up to 1440 dpi resolution with excellent drop stability.
Flexibility as the Recipe for Success
Despite declining interest in skiing in Slovenia and lower demand for personalized ski club apparel, Co. Andraz has remained stable thanks to flexibility and a broad product portfolio. During the pandemic, when the ski segment stalled, they shifted to tracksuits and cycling gear and even expanded into workwear. A project with Slovenian Post office demonstrated that high-quality, functional workwear can significantly increase employee satisfaction.
The company continuously seeks niches that support further growth, seeing opportunities in other outdoor sports. Sales are increasingly oriented toward individual customers across Europe, while N.C.R. and Mutoh remain their core printing partners.
