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Made in the U.S. of A.

It seems appropriate to post this in the days leading up to the USA’s Independence Day. Unionwear located in Newark, NJ is the real deal in terms of union made, USA made hats, bags and other items. Their owner Mitch Cahn is a a strong advocate for worker’s rights (and a pretty fun guy if…

Web Wednesday: TPP or Not TPP

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is stirring debate in the apparel industry much as NAFTA did in the 90’s.  This article from Southern California Public Radio talks about the potential impact on the apparel industry. And if you do not support TPP Zazzle’s got you covered.    

Andy Anderson: Nashville Renaissance Man

I feel very fortunate to get to spend some time with Andy Anderson at his studio in Nashville recently. Besides being one of the best screenprinters in the world for over thirty years he also is a master at creating motorcycles that are works of art, and then as if that isn’t enough, ranging far…

Fun with Matching

It’s never fun matching another printer’s work, specifically with full color prints.  You are kind of screwed in these situations because without provided seps and reliable engineering forms or without intimate knowledge of the other printer’s methods you are just making an educated guesses and if you say forget it and simply aim to improve…

History Lesson

Actually, if you make a shirt like this, I would say that you need a history lesson. 1. This flag primarily came into use by racists when the civil right movement in this country finally gained some traction in the 60’s. There was a lot of hooey about states rights and ancestors, but it mainly came…

Bootleggin’ – Whack-a-Mole Law Enforcement

The Chicago Tribune wrote last week about $180K worth of phony Blackhawks hockey being seized by law enforcement under an effort with the oh so tricky “codename” Operation Team Player. This pales when one considers that the NHL’s big crackdown “Operation Red Zone” in 2013 netted $13.6 million in fake jerseys. Bootlegging is big business and…

Oh No! My Best Customer is Leaving!!!!

There is that day when your contact at a big customer tells you that they are leaving. When I was younger my heart would stop, I would get depressed, etc. No longer. Over the years I have found that if you follow up and you have been doing a good job that the person that…

Approved!

We send a computer mock up like The Pawtucket Film Festival example below to every single customer. What we want back (if all information is correct) is the word, “Approved.”  Not “it looks good to me,” “wonderful,” “great,” “ok,” “thank you so much,” or any other number of niceties that might make you feel good…

Scrub Down, Chow Down, Bottoms Up

We had a cool time with some fellow printers and a few chill vendors this week. A good time was had by all at our Ink Kitchen “East Coast Scrubdown and BBQ.” Three customers of mine hooked us up big time. Best Q around from Blue Ribbon BBQ, best brews around with Summer Ale and…

Web Wednesday: Wearables June 15

If you didn’t already know, The Ink Kitchen is featured monthly in Wearables Magazine.  Check us out on page 55 of the June 15 issue.

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