Blog
When we started
We started screenprinting in 2003, just before our daughter was born. Our son was 5 yrs old and had been the centre of our life all that time and knowing that he would lose the limelight we screenprinted I'm The Big Brother t-shirt for him to make him feel special.
Having just purchased a Green Earth Screenprinter for our existing bannerette business it was easy to do and we knew he would just love it.
2nd February 2008 - Pauline
He did love it and he looked so proud wearing his Big Brother t-shirt and holding his new baby sister. The great thing about him wearing it, as well, was that it reminded people to give him attention and not just the new baby. We took a photograph of him wearing his t-shirt and standing alongside his sleeping new baby sister and it is a photograph that I will cherish forever.
6th February 2008 - Pauline
Of course once our friends saw the t-shirt they all wanted one for their children and word spread to the point that we were making large quantities. It was from there that our t-shirt printing business started. As time has gone by our range is gradually building and this year we have just launched our new Maternitees. Which are absolutely lovely and soft.
13th February 2008 - Pauline
We have had our Maternitee shirts researched by Mum's to be (again) and the feedback we have had from them is fantastic. The have told us the Maternitee Shirt is lovely and comfortable, washes and tumble dry, and they still look great. The length has also been an important factor, as not everyone wants to show off half their gorgeous belly. Also, the extra room around the underarm, so you do not feel tight, hot and sweaty.
At the moment we are working on one or two designs to screenprint on some of the maternitees. Hopefully, we shall get around to printing some soon. We have a few customised orders to get done and then we shall have some Maternitees printed.
21st February 2008 - Pauline
Well, it's been a busy week but I am now able to start working on a design for the Maternitee shirt. If you have a specific design that you would like to pass on to me, feel free to do so. I am always open to the ideas of what people would like.
One of the things I am hearing is that people do want organic. It is for this reason that next week I shall be sourcing suppliers of 100% organic t-shirts for adults and children. We are already somewhat environmentally friendly as we use water-based inks and our Green Earth Screenprinting Machine.
29th February 2008 - Pauline
I am pleased to let you all know that we have now printed our first Maternity T-Shirt. We shall hopefully have them photographed and on the website in the next week. As usual things are extremely busy here and I have only just caught up with everything, having taken time out to visit the Birmingham NEC for the Print and Promotion Wear Exhibition.
The exhibition, although not as big as I expected was definitely worthwhile visiting. I have been able to source extremely good quality organic t-shirts, both for adults and children. So now have another job to do in purchasing and printing those.
10th March 2008 - Pauline
Yaay! I have ordered in the new blank Organic kids T-shirts. They will arrive tomorrow and I plan on printing them, if all goes well, on Saturday. I am about to photograph the Preggers 'N' Proud Maternity T-Shirts, a few of which we have screenprinted, as I have not had time recently to get them on to the website.
13th March 2008 - Pauline
Well, I have been extremely busy. I am pleased to say our Maternity T-Shirts are now available for purchase. The Preggers 'N' Proud label is now available to all expectant mums. So, if you want to be as comfortable as some of the celebrities that have been gifted or spotted wearing Preggers 'N' Proud Maternity T-Shirts, you can be. We have screenprinted our own motif, but also have plain available too. Grab your's whilst you can and you will be extremely happy with your maternitee shirt.
Due to many requests we have also extended the size range of our Stedman, Pink, Big Sister T-shirts. We now cater from size 26" - 32".
Also now available, are the new Humbugz - Tender Loving Clothing (R) Collection. 100% Certified Natural Organic Girls T-Shirt. These are absolutely wonderful. Sooo soft and with a stretchy interlock. Using our water-based inks and Green Earth Screenprinter, we have, by hand, printed I'm The Big Sister slogan. I am really excited with this new range and I know you will be too. We shall be printing these with I'm The Big Brother slogan, very soon.
17th March 2008 - Pauline
About our Organic T-Shirts
The Humbugz - Tender Loving Clothing (R) Collection are sourced only from factories that meet demanding standards. There is a transparency that enables the company - Mantis - to oversee a fully vertical operation at every stage of the production process. From the very beginning - with raw cotton that is spun, woven and, if required, dyed, right through to the end - with the stitched finished garment. It is possible to be considerate to the world with planet-friendly production methods and fair wages. This results in high quality, fashionable garments through fair trade.
In order to ensure that Mantis are doing the things when they produce their clothing, they approached some important organisations for their views and guidelines, and to certify their credibility.
Ethical Trade Initiative Base Code - This code ensures companies are meeting international labour standards. Mantis take advice from the experts with regular, independent social and environmental audits to monitor their progress and guarantee their own compliance. Not only do they do this, but they are also providing local communities with employment, education and skills for the future.
Oeko Tex Association - This provides assurance that no harmful substances or dyes are used during any stage of the production process, or indeed that any chemicals or harmful residues are left on the garments. Not only do they hold the Oeko-Tex 100 standard certification, but also the highest classification of Class 1, the most stringent test that covers the safety of babywear.
Bio Inspecta - Provides independant auditing, accreditation and certification for thousands of organic products worldwide. They make sure the organic cotton that is used by Mantis meets these standards and issue a certificate if and when it does.
22nd March 2008 - Pauline
bioRe(R) Certified Organic Cotton -