Garmento: Inside the Screenprinter’s Studio

Last Thursday, we caught up with Becca and Paul Steinman, co-owners of Quist Industries, Brooklyn’s full-service screenprinting and embroidery studio. Based in Red Hook, the small team of printers, designers and business development specialists at Quist boast customers ranging from red-hot indie (Barking Irons and Gilded Age) to chic & established (Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, Kangol).

Screenprinting (also referred to as silkscreening), is the process of pressing ink through a fine mesh that has been exposed (in a way similar to photo developing) onto a fabric’s surface. Screenprinting is relatively easy to learn, which is why many start-up fashion labels begin with graphic t-shirts and hoodies. As we found out from Paul, creating a consistently professional print takes skill, equipment and an eye for great design. (Take a look at the video for the complete scoop on the screenprinting process).


We also chatted with Becca and Mindy Dulberg, Quist’s business development specialist, about entrepreneurship, the Red Hook community and the benefits of buying locally-made fashion. Especially for up-and-coming NYC designers, local printing resources provide lower minimum orders, more hands-on interaction and easier communication than overseas or even Californian print houses. For NYC shoppers, this usually translates into lower prices on truly unique designer graphics.


-Written by Bob Bland for Coutorture
-Click for more information on Quist Industries

About Garmento: Garmento is a weekly feature on Coutorture devoted to giving you an inside look at the real fashion industry. Before the runway reviews and the photo shoots, before the ad campaigns and the Vogue editorials, an enormous network of fashion professionals are involved in the creation of every garment. Check us out every week for a new perspective on each step, from trend forecasting and design to manufacturing and sales. With every new profile, you’ll see that whether your fav outfit is from H&M or Hermes, the process is the same. Don’t become a fashion victim- inform yourself weekly with Garmento, and unleash the smart and savvy shopper within.


About Bob Bland: Bob Bland is a freelance writer and professional menswear designer with experience at Triple Five Soul, Rugby by Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Banana Republic. She is also the designer and founder of Brooklyn Royalty, a Williamsburg-based line of men’s and ladies’ apparel. Founded in 2006, the line combines timeless design principles, premium materials and hand-printed graphics for indispensible garments that are meant to look and wear better over time. For more on Bob Bland and Brooklyn Royalty, check out www.brooklynroyalty.com.