Why We Print the Way We Do 🌱

Hi Friends,

Between building out the shop, vending at local markets, and dialing in the details of our flagship collection, I want to pause and share something important: why we chose water-based screen printing for Earth Medicine Apparel.

When I first started working with print shops, I experimented with different methods for our designs—especially Jhonny’s portrait, which has so many fine lines and details. It quickly became clear that not all printing is created equal.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve tested different methods — from direct-to-garment to plastisol — before finding the one that truly does our artwork justice. Here’s a peek at the differences, and why we ultimately chose water-based screen printing for Earth Medicine Apparel.

🖨️ Common Print Methods (and Their Pitfalls)

1. Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
   Think of this like a giant inkjet printer for fabric. It’s great for small runs, but the prints tend to fade quickly after a few washes. That’s not the lasting vibrancy we want for our designs. This is what many print-to-order shops utilize.

   
   

   

   Direct-to-Garment - Soft at first, but fades fast after a few washes. Not ideal for capturing the bold, lasting colors of jungle life.

2. Heat Transfer
   Transfers place a thin plastic-like film on top of the fabric. While crisp at first, they often peel, crack, and feel plasticky over time.

   
   

   

   Heat transfer: Quick and easy, but the print sits on top of the shirt — prone to peeling and cracking with wear.

3. Plastisol Screen Printing
   The industry standard for decades. It lays ink on top of the shirt, leaving a thick, heavy print that can crack as the shirt ages. Plus, it relies on PVC and toxic chemicals that aren’t necessarily aligned with our values around sustainability and health. That said, with traditional screen printing, you get juicy Pantone colors that shine, and it’s great for fine-line garment printing.
   

   

   Plastisol ink: Thick and heavy. Over time, it cracks, and the inks are made with harsh chemicals that don’t align with our values.

4. Water-Based Screen Printing (Our Choice)
   This method actually soaks into the fibers of the shirt, meaning the print becomes part of the garment. It’s soft to the touch, breathable, and incredibly durable—no cracking, no peeling, and the vibrancy lasts for years. Even better, water-based inks avoid many of the harmful chemicals found in plastisol.

For Jhonny’s portrait and other fine-line designs, water-based inks brought the detail to life while keeping the shirt lightweight and comfortable. It’s the closest thing to wearable art that doesn’t compromise on feel, longevity, or our commitment to the planet. 🌍✨

Feeling proud of the work born of collaboration to bring Earth Medicine Apparel Co. to life. Thanks for following along!

With gratitude,

Founder,
Earth Medicine Apparel Co.

We’re vending tomorrow at the Makers Hive Market in Fort Collins. If you’re local, come say hi and feel the difference of our apparel in person!

Can’t make it tomorrow? Come see us next month:

• Makers Hive Market, Ft. Collins | Sat August 30th | Noon - 5 pm

• Longmont Artwalk on Main Longmont | Sat September 13th | 4 - 8 pm

• Colorado Artisan Market, It’s Fall Y’all, Denver | Sat Sept 20th & Sun 21st 10:30 am - 5:30 pm