New textile manufacturing studio coming to Missoula
The company will be launching its own in house items as well as a space for local artists and businesses to come for printing needs. Photo: NBC Montana
MISSOULA, Mont. — Western Sensibility will be the first of its kind printing studio to hit the Missoula market.
“I know some of our equipment is the first to be in Montana, which is really exciting for us,” said its founder, Kathryn Sanders.
The company will be launching its own in-house items as well as a space for local artists and businesses to come for printing needs.
“We are a prime contractor, so we support other companies by printing for them. But we also have an in-house brand that focuses on home interior spaces,” said Sanders.
Factors that differentiate the company from competitors outside the country are small-scale orders and hands-on service.
“We hear the same story constantly,” said Sanders. “There's places where they can get things printed, but there's no sort of R&D that they can be a part of,” said Sanders.
The issue for local artists who get items printed in larger facilities is the lack of customer care if something goes wrong, an element that Western Sensibility is using to differentiate themselves.
“It just kind of as it prints, as it is, and there's nothing else. If they like it, awesome -- there's not a lot of opportunity for them to innovate further,” said Sanders.
The studio is also able to help with the ongoing supply chain crisis by providing a hyperlocal alternative for artists and businesses that need items printed efficiently and locally. The printers at the studio will be able to print up to 1,000 yards of textile daily.
“We're bringing more manufacturing back to the U.S. We’re printing a lot more unique, diverse creative things, which is the fun part, for sure,” said Sanders.
