Established in 1935 by the visionary William Campbell, CASTELLO® 1935 is an Italian luxury linen manufacturer for those who appreciate the most premium in bed, bath, and table linen and accessory products. This family-owned and -operated business has been producing textiles of all types for 89 years – and it is a story of four generations of passion, innovation, and excellence when it comes to all things luxury linen. Recognised for its outstanding private label and hospitality offering, we take a closer look at how this company has come to be the go-to linen supplier for some of the most highly esteemed hospitality corporations across the globe.
When William Campbell founded CASTELLO® back in 1935, he already had textiles experience behind him, having worked in the industry since the age of 14. He had been working for Mr Hugh Danford, a small textile jobber who bought and sold fabrics by the pound. Who knew that this would form the very foundations of what is today one of the biggest private label and hospitality luxury linen brands in the world?
When Mr Danford passed away, he left the business to his wife, Margaret Campbell Danford, who was also William’s older sister. William continued to work for the company, helping his sister, and only left to serve his country in World War II. After the war, William chose to leave his secure employment of 25 years with T Eaton Co to join the family business full-time – against the advice of his wife, Mary. It was under William’s leadership that this small fabric converter became a major cut and sew facility, manufacturing items for some of the most prestigious corporations in the world, including the likes of Seagram’s (Crown Royal Liquor Bag), Chanel (Powder Mitts), Avon (Cosmetic Packaging), and the Exxon Corporation (Esso Tiger Tails), to name a few.
William proved himself a true pioneer within the textile industry, and his genuine devotion shone through towards ensuring the best quality and service for each of his customers. He left an indelible mark on his employees and community, caring deeply for them and being involved in many charitable and social causes. He passed away on 24th January 2022 at the age of 102. William is sadly missed but never forgotten by his family and his customers. His legacy lives on as the founder and inspiration behind the revolutionary CASTELLO®.
CASTELLO® has been passed down the generations of the Campbell family, with each leader inheriting not only the business but their successors’ entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic. Richard, William’s son, was next in line, and he began working in the family business at the age of 12, doing piece work for the Montreal factory that produced industrial packaging, uniforms, and linens for various industries. He soon joined the factory full-time, where he gained a rich insight into the textile industry as well as valuable experience in production, quality control, and customer service.
From there, Richard was inspired to grow the hospitality side of the business, so he convinced his father to let him pursue this niche market – and it was worth it. It might have been considered the smallest element at the time, but it was also the most promising. Richard set about expanding the company’s product range to include high-quality table linens, napkins, placemats, and runners, and established relationships with some of the biggest hotels and airlines in the world, including Air Canada, Hilton Hotels, Westin Resorts, and Four Seasons Hotels.
Next, Richard’s quest for excellence led him to explore the global market for the finest fabrics and designs on offer. He discovered a small factory in Italy that shared his passion for quality and craftmanship, and it also had a similar family history. This factory was founded in 1935, too, by a couple who were making bed linens in their home. Richard saw an incredible opportunity to partner with this factory and create a new brand of luxury linens, CASTELLO® Group, a group of companies manufacturing every type of linen that you could possibly imagine, from sheets to duvets, towels to robes, using only the most exquisite materials and craftmanship.
Further, within CASTELLO®’s world-class offering is its private label service, which features a standard line of popular and often-requested products to hospitality clients, each of which is customisable to their unique specifications. The possibilities and benefits are endless for businesses, giving them complete control over product development and branding so they can create bespoke items that meet their specific needs. Such exclusivity means decreased competition, and the ability to build a loyal customer base, increase profits, and reduce costs. This flexibility offered by CASTELLO® allows companies to align their brand personality with their product offerings, further enhancing their appeal to customers.
Each product available from CASTELLO® is crafted from the finest Italian linens and Turkish terry, guaranteeing unparalleled quality. Regardless of the thread count or weight, each item boasts truly superior quality and durability and can withstand more than 250 washes, making them an extremely reliable choice for long-term use. CASTELLO® sheeting and table linens are mercerised too, giving them incomparable stain resistance and colour retention.
With the luxurious look and feel of each product, they aren’t only stylish, but they provide comfort beyond compare, whether bedding to sink into at the end of a long, hard day; towels to wrap into after a hot bath; or table accessories to create an ambience of prestige at dinner. The company even goes on to offer bathmats, dressing gowns, slippers, sleepwear, and more – all to provide a delightful sense of elegance and relaxation.
Not only all this, but the company is also proud of its worldwide distribution capabilities, which eliminates any need for separate manufacturers or distributors. CASTELLO® manages all aspects of production, logistics, and sales inhouse, including ordering, product creation, and scheduling delivery. Additionally, its factories are OEKO certified, ensuring environmentally friendly operations.
Indeed, the hospitality segment of CASTELLO® has gone leaps and bounds since Richard founded it and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Richard’s son, Taylor is now the third generation running CASTELLO® Group as the current COO. Taylor entered the company in the new millennium as vice president, and he too inherited that vision and passion for the high-end luxury market. Taylor has continued to focus on this niche segment of hospitality and brought on more major customers, including Holland America’s Seaborne Cruise Line, MGM Resorts International, Aman Resorts, Fairmont Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, and Ritz Carlton Hotels. This is with the support of his executive assistant, Candice Murphy, who is an integral part of the team. It is employees such as Candice and generations of family involvement that makes CASTELLO® the extraordinary business that it is today.
Taylor also expanded the sales team worldwide, with account managers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Russia. This is in addition to growing the warehouse and distribution points with east and west coast centres in the United States along with distribution centres in Canada, Europe, and Asia. Taylor ensures that CASTELLO® products reach every corner of the world, and that each customer receives the best possible service and quality every time.
Last year saw another exciting change for the CASTELLO® Group, with the addition of an exclusive sales broker to promote the CASTELLO® Hotel and CASTELLO® Home brands, so that the main group can focus solely on the manufacturing for the private label industry as well as the hotel and home brands. The intention is to allow the CASTELLO® Group to diversify its product range and reach new markets and customers.
Not only this, but the CASTELLO® Group has been awarded the contract to supply all The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) with bed, bath, and table linens and accessories. This is a tremendous opportunity for the group, and it takes great pride in being selected. Currently, the LHW Group encompasses some 428 branded properties and 1,829 sister properties with 20,000 hotel rooms worldwide. This is the single largest contract that the CASTELLO® Group has landed in its almost nine-decade history. This will certainly enhance the reputation and recognition of the brand and showcase all that is excellent and elegant about CASTELLO® products.
Now, the future looks inevitably bright for CASTELLO® as it continues to revolutionise the world of high-end linen. It even has its sights set on its future co-CEOs – Taylor’s son and daughter, Anthony and Annabelle. Anthony was born in 2014 and Annabelle 2017, so they both have a little way to go before they can join the CASTELLO® team. They may or may not choose to join the team one day, but the groundwork has been set by Richard to ensure his grandchildren and those who follow can carry the CASTELLO® brand for many generations to come.
If the first 89 years are any indication as to where this corporation is headed, then it can certainly hope for a strong and prosperous future ahead. The CASTELLO® Group will continue with its global vision and evolve with the next generation and beyond.
For business enquiries, contact Richard Campbell from CASTELLO® 1935 on their website – www.castello1935.com
