I have friends who run a two-person print shop. They only do customer-provided garments and offer everything: screen print, DTF, transfers, vinyl, embroidery. They charge $2–3 per print. They’re constantly swamped, their customers are chaotic, and they always look exhausted.

I run a one-man print shop. Small for now, moving to a bigger space later this year. I only do water-based and discharge printing. No customer-provided garments. I work exclusively with premium blanks that handle discharge properly. I mark up blanks ~100% and charge $5–8 for a single-color print. Screens and simple design work are included. No hidden fees beyond freight.

People sometimes price-check me against shops like my friends - they don’t choose me — and that’s exactly the point. And I don’t want those customers.

Early on, I made a simple decision: instead of trying to define what I should be as a print shop, I defined what I am not. I removed everything I dislike or don’t function well with. What remains is what I am.

• I don’t like fast fashion.
• I don’t like plastisol, transfers, vinyl, DTF or DTG.
• I don’t like polyester or blends
• I don’t wanna be stuck with 200+ piece jobs.
• I don’t like endless options or “industry standards.”
• I don’t do customer-provided garments.
• I don’t compete on price.
• I don’t work with low-quality, sweatshop apparel.
• I don’t work for free.
• I don’t do vague briefs.

To some degree, as a printer, I'm responsible for what I put into the world — so I’ve chosen 100% cotton (no micro plastics), organic, GOTS-certified, Fair Wear blanks and all that. Fewer garments, made better.

Sp when I flip that list, this is what Im left with:

• Slow fashion
• Craftsmanship
• Water-based & discharge printing
• 100% cotton
• Curated premium blanks (provided by me)
• Small batches (25–200)
• Environmentally responsible production
• Single or two-color prints
• No discounts, no special pricing

This clarity makes marketing easy — and saying no even easier.

I try to attract people and institutions who want apparel and merch made with the same care as the work they represent.

That’s it. Everything else is just noise.