I spent three years in a cramped, lint-filled studio trying to figure out why my screen prints were cracking on “premium” blanks that felt like sandpaper. I learned the hard … Read more
Independent Print Refused to Die
I still remember the first time I held a heavy-stock indie zine in my hands at a tiny studio pop-up; the smell of fresh soy ink and that specific, slightly … Read more
Selling First and Making Second
I remember sitting on a milk crate in my first shared studio, surrounded by stacks of unsold, scratchy poly-blend tees that were basically destined for a landfill. I had spent … Read more
Cheap Clothes Are Paid for Somewhere Else
I remember sitting on my studio floor last Tuesday, surrounded by a pile of “bargain” hoodies that had just arrived for a test run. As soon as I turned them … Read more
Natural Fibres Take Dye, Synthetics Resist
I was standing in my studio last Tuesday, staring at a pile of “vintage-inspired” hoodies I’d bought for a small run, feeling absolutely gutted. I had tried dyeing clothes at … Read more
Buying Less Beats Buying Better
I was standing in a shared studio three years ago, staring at a “sustainable” heavy-weight hoodie that had just arrived for a small print run, and I honestly wanted to … Read more
Measure Your Favourite Shirt and Carry the Numbers
I remember sitting on the floor of my first shared studio, surrounded by a mountain of “premium” blanks that felt more like paper towels than actual fabric. I had spent … Read more
Unsold Stock Is the Industry’s Biggest Waste
I still remember the smell of damp cardboard and stale coffee from that first shared studio space I worked in, staring at a mountain of unsold heavy-weight hoodies that were … Read more
One Red Item Once Is Enough
I still remember the smell of that first shared studio—stale coffee, burnt plastisol, and the overwhelming scent of cheap chemical dyes. I was halfway through my first real production run, … Read more
Collectors Preserve What Brands Discard
I was hunched over a communal cutting table last Tuesday, squinting at a 1996 Helmut Lang piece I’d finally tracked down, when I realized I wasn’t even looking at the … Read more