I just joined yet another screenprinter’s group on Facebook. The groups are good ways to share knowledge with your peers. They also are a good place to share complaints with each other, since our families, friends and co-workers long ago stopped wanting to hear about such things. This group had an interesting initiation, to keep…
Some reflections at year’s end on lies and truth in our industry, here are a lucky 7 of each for you: Lies: “One Coat” ink is the answer to all your printing problems.” I made that name up, but no ink is the answer to all your printing problems. There is no miracle white ink…
The Associated Press and NPR/Frontline and the New York Times and other news outlets are reporting that Chinese internment camps are forcing inmates to make apparel including for Badger Sportswear, the North Carolina based company. Ethnic Uighurs and Kasakhs who are discriminated against in Western China are forced into internment camps and for no pay…
Gildan released their third quarter results and you can read them in French or English here. They appear to be in a steady course to take over the world garment trade. Of note are the following: They secured a major underwear contract, private label for their largest customer. Fruit of the Loom/Jerzees and Hanes lost most…
Come by Booth 241 where the Ink Kitchen will be hosting the ISS Shop Talks right on the damn show floor, free of charge. You can learn something from the speakers, you can hang out with your brothers and sisters from the industry, and we’ll have some cool vinyl to listen to. Come hang out.…
Let’s start with the conclusion, which is that simple prints done well sell best. I coordinate the merchandise for Farm Aid (farmaid.org) every year, Farm Aid works to support family farmers and they put on a yearly concert that features Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp and other artists who this year included…
My buddy KC Hruby has created a few imaginary designs in order to protect the innocent. Today’s subject relates to mock ups of designs and how one must imagine all the folks that might be eventually wearing the shirts. We have run into quite a number of instances where a perfectly innocent design was going…
We print a lot of canvas bags and in particular for made in USA companies who send us the canvas to print before they are sewn. We have printed everything from 6 ounce to 22 ounce and all kinds of weaves. We recently screwed up an order and it reminded me of everything that can…
Usually Tom and I relay a story of our own mistakes, which folks seem to enjoy hearing about. Today it is a mix of my woes and someone else’s. On a Facebook group this morning a fellow traveler in the world of screenprinting was having trouble with screens that would not wash out. What can…
Funny ad for sublimation I got in my email box today. “Which Do You Prefer?” I would say that most people over the age of 11 prefer the one on the left. Simple is usually better with clothing. Some people can rock a big yellow dashiki or a full color all-over super hero, but most…
