Kanth London Launches Direct Model and Invites Guild Bathroom Fitters to Collaborate

At The Guild of Master Craftsmen, we are proud to champion members who demonstrate genuine innovation, integrity and a clear commitment to long term quality.

Kanth London is one such member. Founded by engineer Karl Kanth in 2000, the company represents a powerful example of British design, engineering excellence and sustainable thinking in action. At a time when much of the bathroom industry has moved towards mass production and short product lifecycles, Kanth has taken a different path. Every shower system is a patented invention, manufactured entirely in Britain and engineered with longevity at its core.

This article explores Kanth’s journey over the past twenty five years and introduces an important new business model that reflects changing customer expectations. As consumers increasingly seek authenticity, craftsmanship and direct relationships with trusted makers, Kanth is responding by building closer connections with homeowners and skilled installers alike.

As a Guild member operating to recognised standards, Kanth’s values align closely with our own commitment to promoting excellence, supporting British craftsmanship and encouraging responsible business practices.

We are pleased to share their story and highlight the collaborative opportunity now available to Guild bathroom fitters across the UK.

Kanth London was founded by Karl Kanth, a self-taught engineer, in 2000. He has spent the last twenty five years crafting Kanth’s range of luxury shower systems and brassware. Their shower systems are patented inventions, engineered for a lifetime, and manufactured entirely in Britain.

As the son of a plumber’s merchant, Karl grew up in the bathroom industry before beginning his career in the late 80’s. He saw firsthand the impact of consumerist culture and the throwaway society: 

–  Cheap overseas production undermining British manufacturing. 

–  Planned obsolescence and the decline of repair shops.

–  Landfill, waste, climate change.

The bathroom industry was flooded with low quality products manufactured in the Far East. Innovation was replaced with reverse engineering – a process whereby businesses conduct market research to find out which products are selling well, before making their own version with minor changes in design. 

Kanth’s range is intentionally small and selective – each product must be original, unlike anything else in the market. Karl has acquired a total of ten patents on his engineering inventions because he prioritises real innovation over trends and fashions. However, he has struggled to communicate this to retailers who are accustomed to brands with large ranges, containing endless variations of the same product in differ

ent styles and finishes. 

During the pandemic, Karl studied the shift in customer behaviour – the growing appetite to purchase products directly from the source. His daughter found local British farmers on social media, and their family started to buy sustainable produce and high-welfare meat directly from them. Across the board, people were rejecting retail outlets and large chains in favour of artisans, skilled traders, and small businesses. As a small, family owned business – run by Karl and his daughter, Jasmine – Kanth appeals to these customers. People are tired of modern throwaway culture, reminiscent of a past era where products were crafted to last a lifetime. That’s why Kanth have launched a new business model – bypassing retailers and selling directly to their customers online. 

Kanth’s 

customers want them to recommend trusted fitters to install their shower systems. Therefore, as part of their investment into this new business model, they are building a network of reputable bathroom fitters around the country. There is an opportunity for bathroom fitters who are part of the Guild of Master Craftsmen to collaborate with Kanth. Kanth will publish their approved fitters on their website, and refer all customers in the fitters local area to them.