ShowSuit™ Seamless Shell Scheme Graphics
Archived product information – provided for reference only
ShowSuit™ was a popular solution for creating seamless, one-piece fabric graphics for exhibition shell schemes. It allowed exhibitors to achieve a clean, professional look across shell scheme walls without the visible joins associated with traditional panel systems.
Please note that ShowSuit™ is now discontinued and is no longer available for purchase. The information below is retained for reference purposes only for customers who have previously used the system or are researching legacy solutions.
If you are looking for a current alternative, we now recommend our ShellTex™ Seamless Shell Scheme Graphics system, which has been developed as a modern replacement. Details are provided throughout this page.
What Was ShowSuit?
ShowSuit™ was designed as a way to brand shell scheme walls using one-piece fabric graphics. Instead of multiple rigid or semi-rigid panels, ShowSuit allowed large fabric graphics to be installed in a continuous run across the wall surface.
ShowSuit graphics were:
- Printed onto polyester fabric
- Lightweight and rollable for easy transport
- Supplied without visible vertical joins or seams
- Compatible with many aluminium shell scheme systems (with limitations)
- This made ShowSuit particularly attractive for exhibitors who wanted a clean, high-impact look while keeping transport and storage simple.
ShowSuit Shell Scheme Graphic Material and Transport
ShowSuit graphics were printed onto polyester fabric, chosen for its balance of durability, flexibility, and print quality. The material could be rolled for transport and storage and was supplied packed into cartons.
Optional carry bags were also available to make handling and storage easier for exhibitors attending multiple events.
ShellTex™, our newer solution, continues this approach using improved fabric materials and a more flexible fixing method.
How Did ShowSuit™ Work?
ShowSuit used a combination of rails, clips, and tensioning components:
- Aluminium rails were clamped to the top and bottom edges of the printed fabric at intervals of approximately 1 metre
- Plastic adapter clips snapped onto the rails, allowing the graphic to hook over the top and bottom beams of the shell scheme
- Vertical tension was applied by pulling a nylon cord at the bottom of the graphic
- Horizontal tension was achieved by inserting a silicone bead into the vertical posts of the shell scheme
- This system allowed the fabric to be tensioned neatly across the wall, creating a smooth, seamless appearance.
ShowSuit Shell Scheme Compatibility
ShowSuit was designed and tested specifically for Octanorm shell schemes when used with the supplied silicone beading.
Without the silicone bead, ShowSuit graphics could still hook over the top and bottom beams of many aluminium shell schemes, although reduced horizontal tension was sometimes unavoidable, depending on the system.
Because of this, ShowSuit graphics were often produced bespoke to a specific shell scheme, limiting their ability to be reused across different systems.
ShellTex™ was developed to address this limitation and offers greater cross-compatibility with most aluminium shell schemes.
ShowSuit Pricing Structure
Pricing for ShowSuit graphics was based on 1-metre increments of wall width, which made it straightforward to calculate costs for a given stand size. Customers simply ordered the number of linear metres required to match their shell scheme walls.
At the time ShowSuit was available, pricing for the system was set at a fixed retail level across the market, which meant that ShowSuit graphics were typically sold at a relatively high cost per linear metre. As a result, ShowSuit often proved to be an expensive option, particularly when compared with traditional rollable shell scheme panels supplied as individual sections.
For many exhibitors, especially small businesses or organisations working to tighter budgets, this meant that ShowSuit was not always a viable or cost-effective alternative to conventional panel-based shell scheme graphics.
Why We Developed ShellTex™
When ShowSuit™ was discontinued, we took the opportunity to rethink the concept from the ground up.
While ShowSuit provided a seamless fabric finish that many exhibitors liked, it was never a perfect solution. Over time, several limitations became clear.
One of the most obvious drawbacks was the visibility of the fixings. The plastic mouldings used to attach the graphics to the top and bottom rails were relatively large, finished in white, and highly visible once installed. These fixings were always on show at both the top and bottom of the wall and could detract from the overall appearance of an otherwise clean graphic.
An attempt was later made to disguise the bottom fixings by introducing an optional skirting board that could be fitted over them. However, this skirting solution was not compatible with many shell scheme systems and added yet another layer of cost and complexity. There was no effective way to conceal the fixings at the top of the shell scheme, meaning customers ultimately had to accept their appearance.
ShowSuit also relied on manual nylon cord tensioning at the bottom of the graphic. This required careful adjustment and tucking away of excess cord, which could be fiddly, time-consuming, and inconsistent during installation.
Cost was another significant factor. The aluminium rails, plastic mouldings, and clips used with ShowSuit were sourced overseas, contributing heavily to the overall system cost and increasing the environmental impact associated with shipping parts across the world.
A Better, More Accessible Solution
Our aim with ShellTex™ was to retain the visual benefits exhibitors valued in ShowSuit, while addressing these shortcomings and making the system genuinely accessible to a much wider range of exhibitors.
ShellTex uses less intrusive fixing components, many of which are partially or fully hidden — particularly at the top of the graphic — resulting in a noticeably cleaner and more refined finish.
Instead of manual cord tensioning, ShellTex uses an elasticated tensioning system at the bottom of the graphic. This removes the need for manual adjustment, loose cords, or tucking away excess material, making installation faster, easier, and more consistent.
All ShellTex fixings are designed and manufactured in-house at our own facility, allowing us to maintain consistent quality, reduce reliance on overseas supply chains, and significantly lower production costs.
Premium Visual Impact Without Premium Pricing
ShellTex™ graphics are priced at £80 per linear metre, including all required fixings.
By comparison, legacy ShowSuit systems historically sat at around £135 per linear metre, making ShellTex approximately 40% more cost-effective, while delivering an improved seamless fabric finish and improved usability.
This places ShellTex much closer in cost to traditional rollable shell scheme graphics, while still delivering the key benefits of a seamless fabric system:
- Seamless, one-piece fabric walls
- Lightweight, rollable graphics
- Simple transport and storage
- Reusability across multiple events
Why is ShellTex™ better than the original ShowSuit system?
ShellTex™ was developed to improve on the original ShowSuit™ concept in several key areas.
Compared to ShowSuit™, ShellTex™ offers:
- Lower cost — ShellTex™ graphics are priced at £80 per linear metre (including fixings), making them over 40% more cost-effective than legacy ShowSuit-style solutions at historic market pricing.
- Less visible fixings — ShellTex™ uses a cleaner, more discreet fixing system, with fixings that are less visually intrusive and, in some cases, hidden from view.
- Easier installation — ShellTex™ eliminates manual cord tensioning and complex finishing, making setup faster and more straightforward.
- Improved usability — Elasticated tensioning provides consistent graphic tension without adjustment.
- Better transport and storage — Lightweight, rollable fabric graphics make ShellTex™ easy to pack, transport, and reuse.
In short, ShellTex™ delivers the same seamless visual impact as ShowSuit™, while being easier to use, more refined in appearance, and significantly more affordable.
In short, ShellTex was designed to offer premium visual impact without premium pricing, providing a practical, refined, and cost-effective alternative to ShowSuit™.
View ShellTex Seamless Shell Scheme Graphics
https://www.printdesigns.com/shelltex-seamless-shell-scheme-graphics
If you’d like advice on transitioning from ShowSuit to ShellTex, or help specifying graphics for an upcoming exhibition, please get in touch — we’re happy to help.
Need Advice?
If you have previously used ShowSuit and would like advice on transitioning to ShellTex™, or if you are planning an exhibition and need help choosing the most suitable wall graphic solution, please get in touch.
Our team will be happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ShowSuit™ still available?
No. ShowSuit™ has been discontinued and is no longer supplied by Printdesigns. This page is provided for reference only.
What has replaced ShowSuit™?
ShowSuit™ has been replaced by ShellTex™ seamless shell scheme graphics, our new fabric-based solution designed to improve on the original concept.
Is ShellTex™ compatible with shell schemes?
Yes. ShellTex™ is designed to work with most aluminium shell scheme systems using top and bottom crossbeams, making it more flexible than older panel-based solutions.
Can ShellTex™ be reused at different events?
Yes. ShellTex™ graphics are lightweight, rollable, and designed for easy transport and reuse across multiple exhibitions.
