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Fifth Column Printers > Social

@fifthcolumntshirts

We love what we do, and we want to show you how we do it. Check out the spectrum of our work on our Instagram feed.

@fifthcolumntshirts

fifthcolumntshirts

Jul 13

🎨 Choosing the right ink for your screen printing projects can make all the difference. Let's dive into the pros and cons of three commonly used inks: plastisol, water-based, and discharge inks. 🌈 1️⃣ Plastisol Inks:
🔸 Pros: Excellent opacity and vibrancy, making colors pop. Suitable for printing on dark and light-colored garments.
Easy to use, with a forgiving nature that allows for longer print runs.
Durable and long-lasting, with good resistance to fading.
🔹 Cons: Creates a thicker print, which can feel heavy on the fabric.
Requires the use of chemicals for cleanup.
Lacks the soft feel and breathability of other inks.
Contains PVC, which can be harmful to the environment. 2️⃣ Water-based Inks:
🔸 Pros: Environmentally friendly and non-toxic
Offers a soft, breathable feel on the fabric.
Ideal for printing on light-colored garments.
Can create a vintage or distressed look when used with specific techniques.
🔹 Cons: Requires more skill to achieve vibrant colors and opacity.
Longer drying times compared to plastisol inks.
May not perform well on dark or heavily dyed fabrics.
Can clog screens if not properly cleaned immediately after use.
3️⃣ Discharge Inks:
🔸 Pros: Allows for soft, breathable prints that become part of the fabric.
Ideal for achieving vibrant prints on dark-colored garments.
No additional layer of ink, resulting in a lightweight feel.
Can create a vintage, faded effect by bleaching the fabric's existing dye.
🔹 Cons: Limited color options as discharge inks work best on certain fabric colors.
Inconsistent results on different fabric types and dye formulations.
Requires precise timing and expertise to achieve desired results.
Chemicals used in discharge process may require extra safety precautions. Remember, each ink type has its strengths and weaknesses. Consider your project's requirements, the desired look and feel, and the environmental impact when choosing the right ink for your screen printing ventures. Happy printing! 🎉✨ #ScreenPrinting #Plastisol #WaterBasedInk #DischargeInk #fifthcolumn

fifthcolumntshirts

Jul 3

Behind every stunning print, there's a powerful force - the human touch! 👩‍🎨👨‍🎨 At Fifth Column, we cherish the skilled hands and dedicated hearts that make our screen printing process truly special. 1. Craftsmanship: Our talented workers breathe life into each design. From meticulous preparation to precise color mixing, they ensure every print is a work of art. 🎨✨ 2. Attention to Detail: Human eyes spot the tiniest imperfections. Our expert printers pay unwavering attention to detail, guaranteeing flawless and stunning results. 🔎👀 3. Customization: It's all about personalization! Our skilled team thrives on bringing your unique ideas to life, creating prints that resonate with your vision. 🌈💡 4. Passion & Pride: Love for the craft shines through. With passion and pride, our printers pour their heart into each project, ensuring it exceeds expectations. ❤️🙌 5. Collaboration & Communication: We cherish the relationships we build with our clients. Our team collaborates closely, communicating openly to deliver exactly what you envision. 🤝💬 6. Sustainable Artistry: By choosing human labor, we embrace sustainable practices. Our dedication to ethical production supports both art and our planet. 🌍🌿 Join us in celebrating the true heroes of screen printing - our skilled workers! 🎉✨ Let's appreciate the artistry, craftsmanship, and passion they infuse into every print. When you wear our screen-printed apparel, you're not just getting a design; you're carrying a piece of human labor and dedication with you! 🙏 Priting with love since 1977 💕
#ScreenPrinting #HumanLabor #fifthcolumn #livingwage

fifthcolumntshirts

May 4

fifthcolumntshirts

Apr 18

Hey printing fam! Did you know that the mesh count of a screen plays a crucial role in the quality of your print? A higher mesh count produces finer details and sharper edges, while a lower mesh count is best for printing bold, solid colors. We use a range of mesh counts to achieve the perfect balance of detail and vibrancy in our prints. From 43 to 90 we've got you covered! #screenprinting #merchandise #meshcount #fifthcolumn #boldcolors

fifthcolumntshirts

Apr 5

My name is Atom and I’m here to help 🐾🐶🐕
Obviously not with printing t-shirts or quoting customers, but to boost morale and encourage the team to take regular breaks from the screen 😊#screenprinting
#dogsofinstagram #printshoplife #fifthcolumn

fifthcolumntshirts

Feb 27

Simple things make us very happy 😊 #screenprinting #fifthcolumn #sustainablefashion

fifthcolumntshirts

Jan 25

How has 2023 started for you?
#screenprinting #fifthcolumn #ecofriendly #merchandise

fifthcolumntshirts

Dec 2

We're nearly there ☺️ Only 2.5 weeks of production time left of 2022 ⏰
For the best chance of receiving your tees before the holiday break, please email us today 2nd December 2022 👌
Last dispatch day is 19th December 2022
Last collection day is 20th December 2022 ⚡⚡⚡
We'll be closed for a well earned break from 22nd December and back at work on 5th January 2023.
Hurry, we still have a handful of production slots left 🖤✊
#fifthcolumn #screenprinting
#merchandise

fifthcolumntshirts

Apr 14

We've just finished a last minute t-shirt order for our pals at @pressuredropbrw for their event tomorrow 🙌
They're launching some exciting collab beers on Good Friday, the perfect start of a long weekend 🍻🍻🎉🎉☺️

fifthcolumntshirts

Mar 24

After 2 years of restrictions live gigs are finally back on 🤩 and this means we're printing more great merch than ever! 💪 Two weeks from today, on the 7th April our friends @warmduscherr are taking over @o2forumktown in NW5 (just across the road from our old factory) 🤗
Grab a ticket before they all go 🎟️
Mad line up, not to be missed 🎉🎉🎉 Lounge Society, Benefits, Faboo TV & Sportsbanger Live, and Joe Goddard DJ Set

fifthcolumntshirts

Mar 22

Did you know, that buttons on @neutral_certifiedokay polo shirts are made from pressed waste cotton?
"It doesn't save the world. It doesn't make us better. But it's reasonable. And that makes it okay" 💚💚💚
#fifthcolumn #organiccotton

fifthcolumntshirts

Mar 16

We love printing great merch for friends 🤗
The softness of discharge inks worked really well on these detailed designs for @novereband 🙌
Catch the band tonight in London at the @newcrossinn 🖤 Or in the next few days 17th March The Gryphon Bristol
18th March Scruffy Murphy's Brum
19th March The Tower Stoke Some post metal goodness, not to be missed! #screenprinting #fifthcolumn #postmetal

fifthcolumntshirts

Feb 3

It’s said that somewhere deep below the streets of London lies a secret chamber that houses a vast collection of iconic t-shirts from yesteryear. A hidden treasure trove, precise location known only to a few and admittance limited to fewer still. This carefully curated horde of classic tees, preserved for posterity, is rumoured to contain a wealth of rare and influential pieces. To be specific, the earliest works of a group of gifted friends destined to become the renowned garment printers, Fifth Column. Urban legend, the fanciful musings of those inclined to mystery and myth? We couldn’t possibly comment. Other than to say, the gaffer here at Fifth Column has an awfully big bunch of keys and some of them are odd shapes and kind of archaic looking. All of which has probably given you a pretty good clue as to the nature of this article. Yes, you’ve guessed, it’s time for more vintage punk t-shirts from the Fifth Column vault! One point worthy of mention before getting into the vintage punk t-shirts. We no longer print any of these tees. This is strictly for fun, a little stroll down memory lane. #screenprinting #vintage #punk #tbt

fifthcolumntshirts

Jan 25

The festivities fade with alarming speed once you get a little deeper into January. And wow, can it feel cold. Here at Fifth Column, we’re lucky to have the heat of busy printing carousels to keep us warm, but we still look forward to bright things on the horizon. The @wearestanleystella Spring Summer launch is one of them, a glimpse into what Stanley Stella have come up with for warmer days. This is our take on what SS22 offers, beyond their existing ranges, for the screen printing and embroidery sector in 2022. There is a plenty happening in this launch, as is usually the case with Stanley Stella when they unveil new lines. They place great emphasis on quality allied to sustainability and have a distinct knack of keeping their finger on fashion and seasonal trends. As a consequence, their collections tend to command your attention and spring some pleasant surprises into the bargain. We’re pleased to say that SS22 is no exception. #fifthcolumn #screenprinting
#ecofriendly

fifthcolumntshirts

Dec 21

Another somewhat crazy year is drawing to a close and we're getting ready for a well earned Christmas break between 22nd December and 6th January 2022.
We're still working flat out to fulfil last minute orders but we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your custom and interest during 2021. If we don't speak to you before, stay safe and have a fabulous festive holiday.
🎉😊🤗 #screenprinting

fifthcolumntshirts

Sep 1

Most of us have at least one or two t-shirts in our wardrobe. They’re easy to wear, easy to wash, and generally very versatile garments. Informal and understated, practical yet still stylish, there’s no pretention with a t-shirt. Plus, they’re inexpensive and the unfussiness of them feels somehow modern and classless. In some ways, they’re the epitome of contemporary apparel, an embodiment of our current approach to clothing. Yet in truth, the t-shirt, or some form of it, has been around for a long time. The modern history of the t-shirt dates back to the 1800s, but its origins can be seen in some of our earliest forms of clothing. Link in bio for full article

fifthcolumntshirts

Jan 18

January can be a bit grim and grey here in Britain, so we thought we’d cheer ourselves up with a stroll down memory lane. Our latest blog post with more classic punk tees, is another fond look back at Fifth Column’s humble beginnings. In truth, we never need much excuse to dip into the archives and peruse our heritage shelves. There’s something about these old punk shirts that make us feel good. #screenprinting #vintage #punk

fifthcolumntshirts

Jan 8

Hello 2021! There might be snow in the air and sub-zero temperatures, but the fashion world is already gearing up for summer 2021. And a good thing too! Grey skies and grim news have made this January tougher than usual. Just when we all need a little lift, something to remind us that happier times and freer days are on the horizon, the Stanley Stella Spring Summer 2021 Collection has landed. Here at Fifth Column, like a lot of folk involved in ethical printing and personalisation, we’ve grown to really look forward to new arrivals from our friends at Stanley Stella. Their seasonal ranges tend to be a treat and this latest offering is no exception. There are a number of fabulous new styles and some scintillating new colours. So here we go, a flavour of the Stanley Stella Spring Summer 2021 Collection. If you’re into sustainably sourced clothing, it’s well worth a look. (link in bio) #stanleystella #fifthcolumn #wearestanleystella

fifthcolumntshirts

Oct 27

Ever wondered how tees are made? This years @teesofsolidarity t-shirts are 100% organic, vegan, Fair Wear certified, and proudly printed by our team. From the production process to the content of the inks, each stage of the manufacturing process adheres to great standards of sustainability and environmentalism. In order to eliminate the use of films we use a direct-to-screen machine. We dispose of any remaining materials through accredited companies, minimising waste and recycling where possible. SolidariTee decided to use a 100% organic cotton tee, which is natural and GMO-free, means that less water than standard cotton and no chemicals are required in production. The inks used to print the design on the tee are vegan and 100% phthalate free, ensuring that no animal products, such as gelatine are used in either the ink or the emulsions. It is important to us that when you buy a SolidariTee you can be assured that sustainability and environmentalism is at the centre of how we manufacture our t-shirts and therefore fundraise, raise awareness and show solidarity with asylum seekers and refugees. To purchase your SolidariTee head to this online shop at https://solidaritee.org.uk/shop or buy one from a rep at your university! All proceeds go towards funding legal aid for asylum-seekers and refugees.
#solidaritee #fifthcolumn

fifthcolumntshirts

Oct 15

Merch alert! 🚨🚨🚨
Our friends at @false.light.store are launching a pre-order tomorrow at 10am 🙌
13 new designs from Rob @grindesign_tattoo all printed on ethically made, organic cotton/salvage farments from @continentalclothing
🌎
Available for a limited time only, once they're gone, they're gone for good so better check out the link and set your phone reminders ⏰
#grindesign #merch

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