A Good Neighbor

June 24, 2008

Hopper's Silk Screen printed this T-shirt design to raise money for flood victims in the Midwest.

Mark Hopper, president of Hopper's Silk Screen in Fond du Lac, Wis., knows his company escaped a major heartache recently. The flood waters that plague the Midwest came within 50 yards of his shop — half a football field away from destroying his facility. "The water was four to five feet deep over there, and somehow we didn't get a drop," he says. "We only moved to this location in March, and it wouldn't have been covered by flood insurance."

Spurred by its good fortune, the company now wants to help its neighbors recover from the floods. With the support of local radio stations Sunny 97.7 and TCX 96.1, Hopper's is collecting canned goods, non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies and monetary donations. The screen printing company printed 1,000 T-shirts with the phrase "Divided By Water, United By Fellowship." Each person who donates $10 or more in money or supplies will receive a shirt, which was designed by Hopper's graphic artist Tammy Iloncaie. Collected donations will go to the local Salvation Army branch, which lost nearly all its food pantry goods in the flood.

"We really struggled to come up with the right logo," says Hopper. "[The design] has a rainbow on it, and we wanted it to say ‘United By Love.' But we were afraid that might be too 70s." He notes that he deliberately avoided printing Fond du Lac in the design so that it's applicable for the entire Midwest.

It's only natural for Hopper's to want to help the area. The company has strong ties to the local community. It has been in business for 30 years, and currently rents space to a 15-year-old embroidery shop. Hopper's business niche has developed into teams and schools, although he does some corporate identity. The 12-employee shop has a new, two-head digital printer as well as several manuals.

Even though summer is Hopper's peak season, the company is doing what it can to help the Salvation Army and the community. — Liz Aull

The Right Finish Ensures a Good Start
What you do after completing a screen print order impacts how smoothly the next job goes.
In the post-press phase of screen printing, as throughout the production cycle, efficiency is your primary goal — and having set procedures in place is key to achieving it. By laying out the steps that must be taken, you’ll speed up the process and help ensure that everything is done properly. Also, your entire staff will be on the same page regarding what needs to be done next and how to do it.
September 03, 2008

Inkjet Garment Printer Sources
When sourcing DTG printers, refer to this list.
September 01, 2008

Inkjet Printer Shopping Checklist
What to ask when shopping for a DTG machine.
September 01, 2008

Outerwear Breaks the Mold
Soft-shell construction, year-round usability and high-tech features top 2008 trends for jackets and outerwear.
Technological advancements are flourishing across many industries. Apple just released its second-generation iPhone, and Philips recently demonstrated a 3-D television that doesn't require viewers to wear plastic anaglyphic glasses. Even apparel is becoming more and more futuristic. Workout gear featuring heart rate monitoring and motion sensors is now in stores, and "smart clothes" that fend off insects and mask cigarette smoke are in the pipeline.
September 01, 2008

Covering All Underbases
The key to obtaining bright prints on dark-colored garments is through the proper use of a white underbase. However, it's not necessary to have an absolutely white underbase to achieve a high-opaque print. The underlay's job is to block some of the garment's color and provide a foundation for the overprint colors.
September 01, 2008