Helm charts are widely used for deploying applications to Kubernetes, but customizing these charts can lead to maintenance challenges when updates occur. To address this, Kustomize offers a solution that allows developers to create custom overlays without forking the original Helm charts, ensuring that custom deployments remain in sync with the latest vendor updates. Unlike templates, which require specific placeholders and restrict changes to predefined areas, overlays enable complete replacement of sections in the original file, providing flexibility in customization. By using Kustomize, developers can modify Helm templates to suit unique requirements while maintaining the ability to apply updates from the vendor, enhancing automation and efficiency in CI/CD processes. This approach is particularly useful for deploying applications across different environments with varying configurations, as it allows for the application of specific overlays tailored to each environment's needs.