The hardest thing we do here is apparel. No matter what we offer, people want it in a different color, style, size range or material. About 90 percent of items returned by customers are apparel, typically when a garment doesn’t fit like the buyer hoped.
Rather than just dump our apparel, I decided to try something different.
In the 1980s, almost every mall had a kiosk where you could get a custom sweatshirt or T-shirt made for your school, band or high school crush. The letters were typically blocky and “flocked,” which feels like suede.
I’ve always loved the way these look and especially the way they age.
Recently I bought a Cricut machine to experiment with a lot of different materials. My first thought was to use it in our publishing efforts (more on that later) and maybe make some small batches of stickers. After learning the ropes on the Cricut, I designed a Lost Art Press iron-on logo to make a batch of sweatshirts for our employees.
Then I asked our local shirt shop if they would sell us the transfers alone (with no garment). They said yes. So in the next two weeks we’ll sell a transfer that you can apply to any cotton or cotton/poly garment using a household iron.
The vinyl transfer will be inexpensive to mail, and easy to apply. And you’ll know beforehand that you love the fit and feel of your garment. The transfers are expensive (there is a lot of handwork to weed them – to remove the middle of the Os, A Rs, etc.), so the transfers will be $27. That’s more than I hoped, but I think you’ll be happy with the result.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. The margin on these is terrible – worse than tools. So we won’t be able to offer these to retailers. Apologies in advance. If you’re outside the U.S. and want one, I recommend using a re-shipping service.
I admire (and chuckled at) the symmetry.
Vote for Pedro!
As the owner of a maker space, with both cricut and sublimation printer can I just steal your design (for personal use only)
I wouldn’t anyway I’ve already yoinked the London underground logo
Go for it.
Can I cricut out my own bootleg “A NU START PRESS” sweatshirt?
Please do. And send us a photo.
Alt: LOS TARTS PRESS
Or as my mom calls us (not as a joke…she just can’t remember the real name): Lost Cause Press
What would the evil parallel universe Lost Art Press be like/called and do they offer a Birdhouse book?
Ted’s Woodworking. And yes!
Out of idle curiosity, would it be possible to save on labor costs by shipping them with the middle of the O’s, R’s etc. cut out but not removed, and instructions that the user should turn on their iron and then pull out the middles of the letters while it heats up? I have only the vaguest idea what a cricket is, and no experience in this sort of thing, just seems like that’s labor that you and most users would rather see the user do.
Worse margins than tools, but better than posters?
Will they come free in any cereal boxes? Preferably Honeycombs or Cinnamon Toast Crunch
I love and wear my LAP heavyweight hoodie, but I admit it would fit better if I were tall and thin rather than short and fat. I bought an American Giant relaxed fit version, which fits me better. I may just have to get the transfer for that one!
Haven’t had my coffee and naturally a little slow; how do I order?
They will be available within a couple weeks.
Like Fitz doesn’t have enough to do, now she’ll be picking apart A’s and O’s…
Mind your Ps and Qs.
Whatever happened to “Never Despair” skep t-shirts? (Mine’s about worn out.) Seems like it would be hard for anybody to be dissatisfied with a simple t-shirt. I have already abandoned hope that the carpenter shirt will be reintroduced. Shoulda bought three when they were available.
Brillant, as usual……
Now unlike Bodach, I’ve had my coffee; maybe too strong or maybe too much. It has led me to these thoughts…..
I see a group of middle aged/older men (yes, I’ve earned the right to make that statement). They are walking into the local big box store. All are wearing gray hoodies, maybe one gentleman is wearing a darker gray, he’s the leader. Emblazoned on the back of their hoodies is Chris’ image. Ya know, the positive/negative image on the “Disobey Me” sticker. The image, made via Cricut, encompasses the entire back of the hoodie. The leader does have “Disobey Me”, as a rocker, below the image.
Some of these guys are wearing LAP hats, both variants; the English A-square and the cabinetmaker’s traingle. While we know what these images define, to them, it means anarchy. Many have a small folding rule, which can flip out like a switchblade. One gentleman has a side holster, housing his mositure meter.
They are here for one reason…. They corner the manager (I think managers exist at the borgs, granted I’ve never seen one in the wild). They demand No.1 SYP; all sizes, better prices and yes, for those, better sheet goods. After long, blank stares from the employee(s), they leave.
All pile into their respective vehicles; pickem-up trucks (relax, I drive one), SUVs and one Mitsubushi Minicab. (The Minicab guy, although a sometimes disciple “Chosen of Schwarz”, did get an up close a personal of the vehicle at Kate’s school.)
They then embark to the “woodworking” chain of retailers………
Not sure if there will be an “Open Wire” tomorrow. I’ll take the moment now to wish everyone at LAP a very Merry Christmas. And, a safe and Happy New Year!
How about just the LAP initials? Maybe in a Germanic font. I can iron them onto the back of my boxers.
Do it and I’ll send you a $20 gift card in exchange for a photo
Just take my money, will ya? Go ahead. Take it. You had me at “1980s Flocked t-shirt” style. But seriously, when will these be available for order?
That’s fantastic and Soo true about clothes. It is the most returned product. Great solution make your own (myo) ❤️❤️❤️it!