The history of Kelly & Windsor Australia

We are very proud of our history, a lot of milestones and success

2001 - The K&W start up

• Company and manufacturing facility established with the acquisition of fibre processing and quilting equipment.
• Commenced business in manufacturing furniture cushions and non-woven fibre fill product ranges.

2002 - The K&W brand vision

• Initial design and testing of bedding quilts made with specialty fibres including alpaca, cashmere, mohair, Lyocell and silk.
• Kelly & Windsor brand established.
• Strategic exclusive alliance agreement with the Australian Alpaca industry to develop alpaca bedding accessories.
• Commenced design and testing of alpaca quilts.

2003 - Launch of the K&W brand

• Launch of the new Kelly & Windsor brand of luxury alpaca quilts - Alpaca Classic Collection.
• Released through David Jones, a leading Australian premium department store.
• First website was launched.

2004 - The first exports

• Released Alpaca Classic underblankets and pillow and Alpaca Light (alpaca/cotton) bedding range.
• Exhibited at Heimtextil fair, Germany.
• First exports to Hong Kong.

2005 - Alpaca Gold quilts, a superstar product

• Alpaca Gold (pure alpaca) quilt range released.
• Exhibited at Heimtextil fair, Germany, second year.
• First exports to Japan.
• New website launched.

2006 - More new alpaca quilts collections

• Released the "His & Hers" dual weight quilt design in the Alpaca Gold and Alpaca Classic styles.
• Upgraded carding and pillow lines.
• First exports to China & Taiwan.

2007 - Technical innovations

• Installed needle fabric equipment to manufacture alpaca and wool blend fabrics for the craft and interlining business.
• Acquired multi needle quilting equipment.
• Exhibited at Shanghai Intertextile Home Textile and the Shanghai Furnishing Fair.

2008 - A new brand

• Alpaca Softop (needle felt fabrics) released.
• The Australian Alpaca Bedding Company brand name established with its own product range.
• First online sales site launched.

2009 - Contract OEM started up

• Introduction of UltraSoft seamless quilt design, patent pending.
• Upgrade of all alpaca quilting collections.
• Establishment of contract manufacturing business - quilted and needled products

2010 - Exports surge

• Exports expanded into China, Korea and Taiwan.
• Exhibited at the Hong Kong Home Textiles fair.
• Expansion of business into high performance products eg flame retardant bedding, fire protection screens.
• Launched the Australian Country Wool range of wool quilts, duvets, doonas, comforters and underblankets.

2011 - Plant upgrades

• Two new quilting lines purchased and installed for super king sizes for Australia and International markets.
• Exhibited at the Hong Kong Home Textile fair, second year.
• TV shopping in Taiwan

2012 - A big year

• Exhibited at the Hong Kong Home Textile fair, third year.
• Exhibited at Shanghai Home Textile fair.
• Accredited as an approved supplier to the Australian Department of Defence, Royal Australian Navy for flame retardant bedding products (quilts, pillows, linen and quilt covers) for submarine and surface vessels.
• Released Alpaca Bamboo quilt collection, a world's first innovation in natural bedding.
• TV shopping in Taiwan, second year and a sell out

2013 - On line shopping

• Launched new marketing website with updated on line shopping facility.
• Exhibited at Heimtextil fair, Frankfurt, third year.
• TV shopping in Australia with 6 shows, all sold out

2014 - A record year of growth

• Exhibited at Heimtextil fair, Frankfurt, Germany, fourth year.
•  Exhibited at Intertextile fair, Shanghai, China
• Exhibited at Maison Objet fair, Paris, France
• Extended the range of Alpaca Bamboo quilt collection - a 300gsm lightweight and a 600gsm super warm version released.
• Acquired state of the art embroidery equipment for new quilt design collections

2015 - European sales program launched

• Kelly & Windsor Europe BV, a 100% subsidiary incorporated in Netherlands to support the European sales program.
• Designed and released the world's first All Seasons alpaca quilt collections - Alpaca Bamboo and Alpaca Gold versions
• Exhibited at Heimtextil, Frankfurt, fifth year
• Exhibited at Maison Objet, Paris, second year

2016 - Record export orders

• Exhibited at Heimtextil, Frankfurt, sixth year
• Kelly & Windsor Europe BV in Netherlands set up
• Several sales visits to Europe to launch the brand, positive. First orders taken with high end retailers in Netherlands  and Belgium
• Production capacity expanded with several plant & process initiatives
• Export orders reach all-time record to China and Taiwan

2017 - Year of the Rooster

• Established The Australian Alpaca Bedding Company as the K&W master distributor P R China
• Designed and launched the AABC alpaca and wool bedding product range for China
• Launched new AABC web site in English & Chinese
• Exhibited at Heimtextil (seventh year)
• Exhibited at Intertextiles Shanghai Fair
• Co branding program with HYX of China
• Alibaba sent film crew to Australia to make a video about Kelly & Windsor and AABC
• Secured major supply contracts with the Australian Royal Navy for bedding products
• Commenced on line selling into China - Seeco and others. Our first 11th November sales event

2018 - A "Blue Ocean Year"

• Exhibited at Heimtextil (8th year)
• Exhibited at Spring and Autumn Intertextile Fair in Shanghai
• Expanded on line sales in China - TMall, JD.com
• Expanded private label quilt business and established an alliance for export to China.

2019 - A year of changes

• Fibre carding line refurbished (higher output + improved quality & more flexibility) and process systems improved and upgraded
• Exhibited at Autumn Intertextile fair Shanghai (4th fair)
• New product development program initiated
• Expanded private label quilt business
• New web site launched

2020 - A very challenging year

• Updated web site and CRM systems
• New header samples released
• Despite several covid restrictions throughout the year, we didnt miss a production day and were busy for the whole year and even hired additional staff.
• Upgraded our plant with several new items of equipment in sewing, quilting and shipping
• Repeat export sale orders

2021 - We celebrate 20 years of business!

• New products released
• Alpaca Bamboo His & Hers quilt range
• Alpaca wool underblankets