Different Types of Screen Printing Techniques

Screen printing might sound like it’s a straightforward process but there are many print effects that can be achieved with the right technique. The different screen printing methods are used to create a specific look to fit with the style you’re looking for. In order to achieve certain looks, you may need to adjust your artwork file or overall design. Don’t worry, we will take you through those steps!

In this guide, you will find the best T-shirt printing methods explained, exploring how each method works, the process, and the end results. Each of these methods are widely used by screen print shops around the world.

About Screen Printing

Screen printing is one of the most popular, established, and widely used amongst print shops. The process involves using screens to apply ink to apparel and other various materials. Also known as silkscreen printing, screen printing is a versatile and effective printing method that allows you to produce T-shirts with outstanding quality and a tactile feel. And, because the inks are absorbed deeply into the fabric, it is possible to achieve vivid, bright colors and maximum durability.

This is one of the most traditional methods of T-shirt printing, with experts believing it dates back as far as ancient China. However, it became popular in the 20th century, when Andy Warhol used the technique to create his iconic Marilyn Monroe portrait. It has since been used to create flatstock such as band posters, art prints, and graphic tees.

What Is The Screen Printing Process?

• Design Creation

  • Screenprint designs are often done using various software such as illustrator. You will want to ensure your file is in the right format before you begin creating your design. Size is very important and you will want to ensure the file can be re-sized according to the print surface.

• File Formatting

  • Vector files are needed to create a perfect print. Vector files are mathematical calculations that create lines and figures on our monitors. Unlike working with pixels, you can expand or minimize these vectors as much as you want, without impacting the quality. As well as being saved as a vector, the artwork must also be separated, with each color on a different layer. This is because, in the screen printing process, each tone is printed using a different screen.

• Screen Preparation

  • The screen needs to be coated with a photosensitive emulsion. This creates the green background you might have seen on a screen printing screen. This is a simple process but must be done carefully to ensure that the liquid is distributed evenly.
    For the photosensitive emulsion to work properly, it must be left to dry in a cool, darkroom. If the emulsion is exposed to light at the wrong time, it could jeopardize the full process.

• Stencil Creation

  • Once the screen is dry, the design is placed on top of it and secured in place using an adhesive. The screen is then placed under a strong source of UV light. The parts of the screen that haven’t been covered with the design will harden, while the rest will remain soft. In effect, the design has now been burned into the emulsion. When the screen is fully dry, the design can be removed using a small brush and water. A negative component of the artwork will be left and the artwork is ready to be printed using the preferred ink and technique to achieve the right look.

• Color Separation

  • If your design features more than one color, the process is repeated so that each color in your design is separated into individual layers on different screens. So, if your design has two colors, you’ll need two screens.

• Application

  • Now that the screen is ready, it’s time to start the actual printing. The T-shirt will be placed in the screen printing machine, with the screen carefully placed on top. The ink will then be placed on top of the screen and evenly distributed across the surface using a squeegee.

Learn more about the life of a screen from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

What Are The Different Types of Screen Printing?

With screen printing, you can create different finishes such as crackle or glow in the dark, but there are also different techniques that can be done to create a specific look for your print. These different techniques are used when you have a specific look in mind or you’re looking for a specific or unique aesthetic.

Spot Color Screen Printing

Spot Color Screen Printing is the most common t-shirt printing method. It uses the stock color of the ink by printing it through the stencil of the screen. It produces a vibrant solid spot of color and creates a thicker layer of ink depending on the ink and mesh count used.

Being it is one of the most beneficial in printing darker garments. It is useful for printing 1 – 4 colors; when you have more spot colors, other printing methods such as the simulated process may be a good option.

Because spot colors layer an infinite amount of colors, they can provide a much more vibrant and detailed print. In addition to the variety of options, spot colors provide much better consistency from print to print. When printing a solid color with process inks, there may be slight variations in the color balance that can affect the color’s consistency. While spot colors may cost a bit more, they can add a lot to your project making the extra cost well worth it in the end. Check “How To Screen Print: Spot Color”.

Halftone Printing

Halftone prints are single or multiple colors in which gradients are printed. These tones can range from solid spots to halftones of the same color. This screen printing method is excellent when you want to achieve the look of multi-color printing without actually doing it. This screen printing method emphasizes the use of shading with tiny dots, pictures can be printed using halftone screen printing and only use one single color to do so.

For example, if you want to get a pink radiant color on your white t-shirt, you can print red on a white shirt and include a 50% gradient. The 50% gradient will mix with the white to give it a pink appearance, all using only one screen and one color. It improves the graphics quality and produces a softer feeling print when printed directly onto the garment. Check “How To Get Started Screen Printing with Halftones”.

Grayscale Printing

Greyscale printing is a great way to print full-color images as one-color grayscales or halftones. Full-color photographs can be printed as a one-color halftone. Full-color drawings containing a complete range of different colors may also be produced employing a one-color halftone.

Typically it’s done in black ink on a light garment, but technically speaking, it can be done in any color ink as desired. The resolution will depend on the lines per inch used in the dot pattern.

The more dots a halftone has, the more detailed the print will look. It is a great cost-effective screen printing technique to print black and white photographs on garments. Watch “Convert a full color image to grayscale for screen printing using halftones”.

HOW IS HALFTONE PRINTING DIFFERENT THAN A GRAYSCALE?

Halftone printing is different than grayscale printing for several reasons. The first is the fact that halftone printing involves using one color to create various shades and portray the desired image as a result. Grayscale printing, on the other hand, is the specific use of gray shades from black and white.

Duotone Printing

Duotone printing, also known as multitone printing, is the combination of two halftones for the same image printed with two colors. First, a black halftone is printed on white tees, and then a second halftone will be printed with color ink.

The color halftone combines with the black halftone to produce a duotone color hue. It gives a retro and cooling effect to the prints on light-color garments and gives a full-color print appearance but at a much less expensive rate. It also produces a softer feel print when printed onto the garment.

This process requires that the press be set up with special inks, usually PANTONE-designated colors, instead of the standard CMYK inks used for process color printing. Check out “Creating and Separating Duotone Images”.

CMYK Printing

CMYK is the oldest, color reproduction, print method. Using cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink, screen printers can print designs on white or light-colored garments. For users skilled in CMYK file preparation, Photoshop, and screen creation, this is still a viable print process for light-colored garments.

CMYK printing is the most complex of all screen printing techniques and should be done on an automatic press. It can be done manually, but for optimum results, you need an automatic t-shirt press.

The printing process combines the above four colors to recreate the original image’s full tonal and color range. Moreover, it is an expensive process. Additionally, CMYK is implemented less because simulated printing is more dominant. Watch “How To Screen Print T-Shirts in CMYK”.

Simulated Process Printing

A simulated printing process is a method used to reproduce almost any image on the market. It does so by overlapping and blending colors in a method similar to CMYK through using halftones and spot colors and/or PMS colors. Essentially, it's a way of taking an image that historically would have been printed via CMYK but instead uses more opaque ink to create a more stable color and production-friendly ink that can print almost any design for any garment.

Moreover, it is most often the process used to print complex images on black-colored garments. Designs that are too difficult to separate in a vector program, raster images, photographs, complex tonal illustrations, are all doable with Simulated Process. Watch “How to Screen Print: Simulated Process”.

Learn more about the different screen printing methods “CMYK vs. Spot Color vs. Simulated Process Printing”.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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A Guide To Streetwear Design

Designing artwork for a t-shirt or a hat may seem like a simple task, but when it comes to the technical application of the design; things may get complicated. The road to starting your own streetwear brand does not have to be bumpy! we encourage you to inform yourself before investing time and money, and we will help you by taking you through the different steps to consider when creating and designing your own apparel brand.

In this article, we will walk you through efficient and economical ways to begin a streetwear clothing line as well as the technical part of apparel printing to help you avoid having to re-design your logo or any other artwork you would like to print on t-shirts, hats, or pants.

Photo and T-Shirt Design By NEVER MADE

What Is Streetwear?

Streetwear is a casual fashion style that became popular in the 1990s. It includes comfortable yet trendy clothing such as graphic tees, hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers. Streetwear brands are inspired by both hip-hop culture and skater style. Followers of the latest trends in streetwear are known as hypebeasts, and many go to great lengths to acquire limited-edition designer hats, hoodies, sneakers, and more.

The first streetwear brands emerged in Southern California in the 1980s, when surfers sold screen printed T-shirts to promote their hand-shaped surfboards. Inspired by the street style of LA skateboarders and surfers as well as hip-hop fashion, small skateboarding shops in NYC started creating their own designs in the 1990s.

In the 2000s, sneaker culture influenced streetwear fashion. Hypebeasts paired their graphic tees with athletic sneakers, and collaborations flourished.

In the 2010s, luxury streetwear was born. As young people and social influencers made streetwear an important part of pop culture, and the fashion industry noticed, from mainstream sportswear brands to high fashion brands, got in on the action.

The Basics

Comfort

As mentioned, streetwear takes inspiration from the hip-hop culture as well as the skater style. When figuring out the fit of your apparel, you will first want to think about whether you’re looking to design loose and comfortable pieces or have more of a tapered look.

Streetwear is generally defined by breaking the rules of proportion by using oversize t-shirts with skinny jeans or dropped-crotch sweatpants, but as the style evolves, it is encouraged to just make cool and interesting apparel regardless of fit.

Ripped pants and distressed jeans are also part of the streetwear style, these details are important to the overall look. Considering what type of fit and style gives you brand identity and consolidates your audience to a specific group, which in turn, will help you narrow down your marketing efforts in the future.

Fabrics & Design

Because t-shirts are one in a million, and cool graphics are being designed and printed daily; good high-quality fabrics will set you apart from the competition and give your brand an edge. If this is something you can afford, we highly recommend going with higher quality cotton.

Cotton fabrics are premium options and ideal for long-lasting apparel. Additionally, the thicker the fabric, the better the graphics will be. The thicker fabric allows for a cleaner and nicer print, whether you’re screen printing the design or opting for a DTG print (direct to garment), a nice cotton blend is what you will need.

The design will depend on what your brand is about. Considering the name and the inspiration behind your brand as well as finding a compelling way to translate your passion for the brand into a cool graphic is key, and that same sentiment should show throughout each article of clothing and each collection thereafter.

We recommend that you stick to one logo and that logo be visible enough on all articles of clothing offered by your brand. The graphic design should be easy to read and recognizable. When designing the graphics, seek inspiration from your life, your surroundings, or the culture within your community. Having a design that directly connects to a certain lifestyle is what makes a streetwear brand successful.

Versatility

When creating your own apparel brand, especially in the streetwear category, you want each piece to be versatile. Versatility means that you can wear that article of clothing with many other pieces to allow the buyer to create their own unique look and keep their originality.

You can achieve versatility by including basic colors such as white, black, or grey. Minimal designs such as your logo embroidered small on the chest or your logo screen printed on the back of a t-shirt.

The Details

Accessories are essential to completing a look. There are simple accessories you can offer, such as hats, beanies, and bandanas to complete a unique outfit.

Screen printing a hat or a bandana is fairly easy and affordable, and are a good way to add accessories to your clothing line. Additionally, embroidering a logo on a hat or a cross-body bag is a good alternative that provides an added touch of customization and quality.

Focusing on the smaller details can make all of the difference in setting your brand apart from others, such as printing on unconventional spots like the sleeves or adding an embroidered element to the design.

Screen Print or Direct To Garment?

There are many differences and similarities between these two methods of printing, and there are a number of criteria to be taken into consideration when making your decision. The following points will help you decide on which print method is better for your brand and more specifically what type of print method is best for your designs such as logo and other artwork you wish to display on the apparel.

1. Quantity: Digital printing allows for a smaller quantity to be printed while screen printing will usually require a minimum.

2. Apparel: Screen printing has more versatility when choosing your fabric. For digital printing, it is advised to print on 100% cotton or other select cotton blends and only certain colors.

3. Design: Photographs or hyper-detailed images with a lot of colors are usually better printed digitally. However, if you have a large number of shirts you would like to print, screen printing may still be an option but it may cost you a little bit more or may require some adapting to make the design work best.

If cost is your main concern, the following criteria will dictate the best print method:

1. Apparel: The type of apparel can range from value to premium options and depends on the style and brand.

2. Print Locations: There is the option for 1 or 2 locations, which would be the front and/or the back (for a t-shirt or sweatshirt).

3. Fabric Color: For screen printing on darker color fabrics, a white layer before your print is necessary and may cost a little bit more.

4. Number of Colors: The more colors your print requires the higher the cost is for screen printing, however, if you have a large quantity, this cost may be a lot lower as you can have access to deeper discounts.

5. Quantity: With screen printing, the number of pieces will dictate the majority of your cost. This is the most important factor that will most likely dictate the right method for you.

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Streetwear Brand Spotlight:

Never Made is a Los Angeles based streetwear / lifestyle brand created by artist Francisco Reyes, Jr.

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Remember!

When people look at you as a “high-quality” streetwear brand, you’ll not only be able to charge more money, but you’ll be much more reputable in the process. Reputation can take you a long way in the fashion industry, especially when it comes to something as urban as streetwear.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Guide To Designing A Custom Hoodie

We all love a comfy hoodie or sweatshirt and we depend on them in the winter months to keep us warm but also serve style. While blanks are a staple in most of our closets, you need a good graphic hoodie to make a statement and bring your outfit together. For most people, their hoodies will be their most treasured outerwear in their wardrobe. Hoodies and sweatshirts are versatile and can be worn on many occasions, so it’s no surprise that personalized hoodies are a popular choice among brands whose goals are to make a statement.

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5 Steps To Design Your Own Hoodie

We’ll take you through critical steps to take when designing your own hoodie or sweatshirt. Whether you’re designing a hoodie for yourself or you’re designing a hoodie for your apparel brand, you will want to think about your budget first as this will dictate which of these recommendations to take into consideration.

1. Garment Type

First things first, choosing the type of garment can determine some of the criteria below. You have a range of options varying from Polyester to organic cotton. Organic cotton is environmentally friendly and tends to last longer, putting this option at the top of the price range but guarantees high-quality.

If high-quality is not as important and you want to get the most bang for your buck, a good option is a blend. Most hoodies are a blend of 80% cotton and 20% polyester or other synthetic materials. The blends are a good option in terms of breathability and flexibility.

2. Thickness

Weight and thickness are an important consideration when designing a hoodie, these decisions will determine how comfortable and warm your garment is. You probably want to create a quality product and it’s worth spending a little more for a thicker and softer fabric.
ranging from 280 to 350 GSM (grams per square meter), the top end being a chunky, heavyweight garment catering to those who want their garments especially thick. What to look for when buying a hoodie.

3. Design Application

So you have a cool design and you’re thinking, what is the best application? The application can depend on the design, for example, if your design has a lot of small, thinner lines screen printing would be perfect as opposed to embroidery for which the lines need to be a certain thickness.

Screen Printing is the most adaptable application for most brands as it allows a little more freedom with the type of design and depending on the number of colors used, it can also be a more affordable route.

If you’re printing a smaller amount of units and or have a more complex design such as a photo image, DTG (direct to garment) printing will probably be the best option.

4. Placement

This may sound like a no-brainer - front and center is the most popular placement, but doing something different can set you apart from the competition, or if you’re customizing just for yourself, it will set you apart from the crowd.
It’s also possible to print on the sleeve of your hoodies, which could be a good addition or alternative to printing straight on the front or the back. 

One thing to note, however, is that printing on the sleeves is only possible with screen printing or a hand-held inkjet printing gun. The apparel printing gun is not something that is common and not a lot of print shops offers, but you can always ask!

5. Extra Customizations

Additional customizations include adding a visible tag to the cuffs, which can add a more personal and unique flair to a garment. Other extra customizations include adding a patch anywhere on the hoodie, for example, if your hoodie has a screen printed design on the back but you would like to add an additional logo or tagline to the front, you can always have an embroidered patch added. Patches are often rare on hoodies and that can be an attractive addition for buyers.

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“If you’re looking for success with your design but can’t afford anything fancy – it doesn’t have to be. Only 14% of analyzed clothing stores had printed sleeves for their hoodies, for example. Another interesting fact – only 5% of the stores that have been studied have design placements on the back – and only 23% have graphics on the side of the pocket. Additionally, 50% of the designs are logos or quotes and 55% of the colors used are white and black.”

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What Application Is More Durable?

While durability often depends on use, we think that there are other factors to take into consideration, such as the application. DTG Prints are more economical because there is usually no minimum and tend to be more sustainable, while screen printing requires a minimum amount of prints. Screen printing is technically more expensive and less sustainable.

With an embroidered design, you often need a high-quality fabric that is thick to avoid bunching and it can be hard to keep the shape of the design once the hoodie has been washed a few times. However, opting for an embroidered patch that is placed on the hoodie can be an excellent alternative.

Bottom line -

Figuring out your budget and the type of design you would like will determine which method to use. We recommend that if you have a big budget, always opt for the highest quality and the best durability. This will ensure that your brand will be well regarded and is known for high quality is what you want for a clothing brand. Additionally, the quality will dictate how much your customers are willing to pay.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

What Is The Best Ink For Screen Printing?

In screen printing on apparel, there are various techniques and two types of inks that are commonly used, water-based inks and Plastisol inks. So, which one is the best? Well, like many techniques in this field, it depends. In this post, we will compare the two and ultimately give you advice on the best ink for the type of print you are trying to achieve.

What is water-based ink?

Water-based inks are inks made with water instead of plastic or PVC, water-based inks can be split into two primary ingredients which are water and pigment. One of the main features of this type of ink is the fact that it is a more eco-friendly option. Water-based inks soak into the fabric as opposed to sitting on top of the fabric, therefore, making the print smoother and breathable. Water-based inks are better when printing on light-colored cotton, if the design has a lot of details, and if the ideal print has muted colors.

What is plastisol ink?

Plastisol ink is made up PVC particles suspended in a liquid plasticizer, it is very durable, flexible, and is commonly used in apparel printing. Plastisol is thick and opaque and it can be mixed easily to create just about any color imaginable. With plastisol ink, we can create special effects like suede, glow-in-the-dark, glitter, shimmer, or metallic. Plastisol is most commonly used on dark-colored fabrics, and it is ideal when printing designs that are less detailed and very colorful.

Which one is the best?

The best ink depends on what type of print, the fabric, and the design you are trying to accomplish as there as many factors to consider. Below we’ve broken-down the considerations for you to make your choice as well as our opinion.

Softness & Breathability

Water-based inks allow for a lighter and softer print which makes the fabric more breathable and comfortable, while Plastisol tends to be a lot thicker and because it is made up of PVC (or plastic) particles, and the ink sits on top of the fabric, it is less breathable around the printed area.

Color

Plastisol inks allow for more vibrant colors and a more accurate color matching process, especially on darker colored fabrics. Vibrant prints using water-based inks are possible, however, the fabric would need to be a lighter color. Plastisol is considered 100% solid, so every bit of it stays on the fabric when cured.

Durability

While both types of inks are durable, Plastisol ink has the reputation to be the most durable, however, some factors need to be taken into consideration. For example, Plastisol ink is thick and can withstand several washes before fading, although, Plastisol inks tend to crack when exposed to high heat. Water-based inks tend to fade faster with frequent washing.

Versatility

With Plastisol inks, you are able to use a variety of different types of fabrics, other inks, and additives. Water-based ink is best suited for 100% cotton fabrics. Blended textiles are less likely to absorb the water-based ink, although there are some tricks to do this successfully, you will run into a lot of difficulties.

Eco-friendliness

While water-based inks are more eco-friendly, but it’s not by much. Why? Well, water-based inks also contain plastic in the form of acrylics and other binders. they rely on solvents that evaporate, leaving the pigmented binder compounds on the garments. The primary solvent is water, but they often contain co-solvents such as formaldehyde and alcohol. These solvents can be harmful and put you at risk unless you use protective gear to protect you from evaporative fumes. Therefore, the two inks are not that much different when it comes to this issue.

Cost

In most cases, plastisol inks tend to have a lower cost. However, as more people prefer softer prints, water-based inks are becoming more popular and print shops are able to reduce their cost by making large purchases with ink vendors. Therefore, consumer prices may vary from shop to shop.

Based on the criteria above, we believe plastisol inks are ultimately the best option in most cases. It is easier to use, cost-effective, and long-lasting ink. Plastisol is sure to maintain the color and details of the design for a long time.

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Check out T-Shirt Screen Printing Instructions

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For questions, send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

If you’d like a quote, contact us!

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

The Women At Family Industries Print Shop

Women are an integral part of Family Industries, and to close out Women’s History Month we would like to highlight the women behind the scenes at Family Industries. These women are an essential part of the team and they bring a lot of creativity and value to our business.

Meet Kerin

Kerin is Family Industries’ Fulfillment Department Manager, her role is vital to our fulfillment operation and more than a manager, she is the master behind our DTG projects. Kerin has been with family industries for a long time and has become the go-to person for many projects. She is also a very creative and talented designer and has designed for some of our clients such as Amoeba Records. And as if that was not enough, Kerin is also a big part of our Live team, helping with live events as a printer and a brand ambassador. She is without a doubt a force to be reckoned with.

Get to know Kerin

Q: What do you do at Family Industries?

Kerin: I'm a part of the art department, however, I occasionally jump from art to post-production. I also take care of any DTG orders.

Q: What do you like about your day-to-day tasks?

Kerin: I like that I get to problem-solve. I enjoy a challenge and having to figure out how to get people's ideas into the real world.

Q: How did you become interested in the Screen Printing business?

Kerin: I love art. I took several printmaking classes in college and fell in love with the process.

Q: Are you an artist? if so, what motivates you to make art?

Kerin: I'm originally an illustrator/animator. I make art that I want to see. If I don't see enough of a thing I like, I'll make it.

Q: Who are the women or who is the woman in history that has had a big impact on your life or career?

Kerin: Obviously I'm going to go with my mother. When I was growing up, there weren't that many women in power that you could look up to, but my mother was someone who got shit done and never let anyone belittle her. I strive to be that kind of person every day.

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Meet Andrea

Andrea is Family Industries’ main graphic designer and also provides superb customer support. Andrea is a master of design and has a very important role within the company as she talks to the clients and helps them with their designs. Many clients come to us with a basic idea and Andrea is able to translate their ideas into a kick-ass graphic. She is a key and integral part of our client success rate - she helps us keep our clients happy and coming back.

Get to know Andrea

Q: What is your day-to-day like at Family Industries?

Andrea: At Family Industries we use Monday.com, which allows sales and live reps to create a checklist of things that need to be done for the day. I go through that checklist as the day progresses. Each of us in the art department creates CADs and mock-ups for clients to review. Sometimes we get art requests for businesses, events, or parties.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about working at Family Industries?

Andrea: I enjoy creating fun designs for events and companies.

Q: What woman in history or in your personal life has had the biggest impact on your art and/or your career?

Andrea: I don't know if I really have anyone that I can really say influences or inspires me, but I've always liked the story of Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter. kind of a crazy reference but I went to preschool/kindergarten in the south. She grew up in a home where her father taught her at an early age to hunt, which was a crazy concept for "proper girls" back in her day. She was poor though, so it was out of necessity and she ended up taking that skill to travel circuses and was able to support herself. I think it stuck with me because she was a woman that was unconventional but practical. Her fame was based on her skill and nothing else. As a note, I'm not for guns but I admire people being themselves and celebrated for it.

10 Thing You May Not Know About Annie Oakley

Gertrude Stein was another figure I was fascinated with. I was pretty lucky to go to good schools with strong female teachers also. Cal State Long Beach has a lot of great professors that helped me gain my skills and direction during my time there. If I hadn't taken graphic design and printmaking I wouldn't be at family.

Q: What motivates you to make art or be creative?

Andrea: I think creating is the motivation itself. I think artists are just people that have ideas that they need to get out or they'll implode. I love doing doodles and designs just for fun. And when you see others enjoy them it makes you want to make more.

Although it’s not all gems, if I'm lucky, the drawings I put together come together to make something I like. There are a lot of versions and failures before I get to something I really like and make me want to create more. LOL

Q: Were you familiar with Screen Printing before you started working for Family Industries? What do you find interesting about what Family Industries offers to their clients that maybe other similar businesses don't?

Andrea: Yes I went to Cal State Long Beach for printmaking and my main focus was actually drypoint and screenprinting. I actually interviewed because a friend of a friend knew there was an opening and felt it could be something to check out.

Family Industries probably caters more to clients than the other companies. We definitely try hard to make sure all orders are treated the best they can. Attention to sizing, detail, and print quality. We try to catch errors and work with the clients to make sure we can give them the best product.

Andrea’s Work

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Meet Gabi

Gabi is the newest addition to the team, she is our customer service specialist and focuses on new clients by providing quotes and taking the client from the initial contact phase to the production phase. Gabi has been a much-needed addition to the team and has helped us manage all of the inquiries we receive on a daily basis.

Get to know Gabi

Q: What your job title is and what is your day-to-day like?

Gabi: My official job title is Customer Service Specialist. My days are pretty much filled with emails with clients, phone calls, and building quotes. I handle the quotes email, so whenever we get a request for a quote, I’m one of the people that respond. When putting together a quote, a lot of it involves searching for the right garment, amount of placements and colors in the art (which sometimes can be super hard to tell lol), and also finishing services if needed.

I also handle custom order requests, for example, we just started an order with custom tie-dyed socks and a custom dip-dyed shirt that looks like a watermelon! For an order like that there's a lot of coordinating with outside vendors for the tie-dye and socks since we don't produce those in-house. Luckily, we work with awesome vendors that produce the best quality for us! Another thing that happens during my days is print approvals; whenever the guys in production start printing an order, they bring up the first print for us in sales to approve. We make sure the placements are right according to the mock-ups/CAD's. Sometimes Pantones and placements can be tricky, so it’s always best to have another set of eyes on it!

check out How To Dip Dye Your Clothes

Q: What do you like about working at Family Industries?

Gabi: I love the crew so much! Everyone here is so nice and so chill which makes it a great work environment. They welcomed me with open arms and taught me so much about screen printing (I literally knew nothing about it when I started). I feel like a part of a team which is great and something I lacked in my past work experience. We have fun and joke around but always get our work done on time.

I also LOVE all the cool prints we do and the clients we get to work with! Seeing an order come together from start to finish is an awesome process. I get blown away sometimes by the beautifully detailed work we produce. Screen printing is literally an art!

Q: What woman in history or in your life inspires you and why?

Gabi: I'm going to be cheesy here and say my mom, but she is such a huge inspiration to me; she's tough, hardworking, and loving. She started her own business in Philly just after she left her job and literally a year after my sister was born. Now, the company is one of the biggest real estate companies in Philly and they have about 12 employees and manage HUNDREDS of properties. She should be retired by now, but she still goes to work every day - I definitely get my ambition and drive from her. She always supported my dreams and choices, which I didn't always get from others. I hope one day I can be a boss babe like her!

Q: Do you have any artistic or creative interests? If no, what do you like to do in your free time?

Gabi: I love art but I am no artist. However, I live and breathe music! I'm always listening to Spotify and love finding new and eclectic artists. I'd say my favorite hobby is making playlists on Spotify, and honestly, I think I'm pretty awesome at it.

Other than that, I'm usually watching a good show/film relaxing with my cat and pup, or online shopping for things I DON'T need.

Q: What are your top 3 favorite movies?

Gabi: My favorite movies are Empire Records, Almost Famous, and The Craft.

Gabi’s Pets

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.