Lidgard Celebrates 50 Years of Quality and Innovation

We are thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone for Lidgard, as we mark 50 years of creating quality products for thousands of happy customers across New Zealand!

Throughout the decades, our company has proudly remained NZ-owned and operated and has built a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional quality, customised designs, and outstanding service. Join us as we reflect on our journey and the key factors that have made us a trusted leader in the shade solutions and sail industry.

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Our history

After serving his apprenticeship, a young Jim Lidgard started his own sail loft in 1973 continuing the family tradition of boat building and sail making. From these humble beginnings and in the 30 years at the helm, Jim grew the business to the highest level; making sails for the likes of Chris Dickson, Sir Peter Blake and other Americas Cup and round-the-world campaigns!

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Quality is in our DNA

Lidgard soon became one of the biggest most recognised sail making companies in the world. Since then, Lidgard has taken on a wide variety projects both big and small around the world. Growing our reputation for not only high quality but delivering race winning sails that are durable and go the distance.

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Launching into the Shade business

This deep understanding of elemental forces and skill in creating fabric structures sparked the expansion of the business into designing and manufacturing shade sails in the 1990s; in fact Lidgard was one of the first two companies to begin the commercial manufacture of shade sails in New Zealand!

From there, we have grown our shade products over the years to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We now have the most comprehensive high-quality shade product offering in the market; from shade sails, fixed frame canopies, outdoor blinds, retractable pergolas and awnings, roller and other shades and the addition of automated technologies.

Over time our customers have grown too; we proudly provide our expertise and products to a broad range of customers in Residential, Commercial and Education sectors. So whether a home, school or business, and no matter the size or complexity of the project, we embrace each challenge and provide a personalised service to deliver considered solutions that enhance outdoor spaces and provide optimum shade.

Looking ahead

We’re constantly exploring new innovations, materials and technology that will allow us to continue to deliver the best quality and value for our customers over the next 50 years. Thank you to you, our valued customers today and those to become customers tomorrow!