Printed by Us are a social enterprise built on the vision of creating meaningful change through art, design, and opportunity. Based in Sheffield, UK, the studio is part of a homeless charity dedicated to helping individuals rebuild their lives. Printed by Us is a community-driven initiative focused on creating job opportunities and skill-building workshops to help vulnerable adults lead more fulfilling lives. Combining the power of screen printing and creativity with a passion for social purpose and community, Printed by Us produce high-quality products that carry a deeper meaning. The team collaborate with independent artists, such as Anthony Burill, Emilly Redfearn, and John Pedder, to design and produce unique, handcrafted items including ethical garments and high quality, GF Smith card prints. Each product is carefully crafted on organic, sustainably made materials, with all profits reinvested back into their workshops and program.
Printed by Us are also a supported employment programme that employ vulnerable people who have previously been homeless, offering a first step back into employment, as well as training, volunteering, and professional development. Their goal is to enable people to learn new skills, develop self-confidence, and gain work experience and training certifications that can help them transition into employment. They comment; “We encourage our team to not only build skills but also take pride in creating something beautiful! By purchasing a Printed by Us product, customers support these individuals’ journeys while taking home a stunning piece of art, made to the highest standard.”
The Printed by Us team brings together a blend of backgrounds. Some have worked in creative fields, while others come from social work and rehabilitation backgrounds, and a lot of their team are people with lived experience. Printed by Us began 8 years ago as a ‘next step’ into gaining stability through wellness and voluntary activities. Since then, they have been through many iterations and changes to become the brilliant Printed by Us you know today! Their combined knowledge and passion allows the team to build a programme that doesn’t just teach technical skills, but also provides holistic support and mentorship to those they work with.
Collaboration and learning are at the heart of Printed by Us’ working process. All of their products are designed in partnership with independent artists, focusing on original designs that reflect positivity and creativity. Once designs are finalised, they move into the hands-on production phase, where their workshop group has the opportunity to learn screen printing techniques. The team tell us; “We chose to exclusively use screen printing as our enterprise’s process due to the mindful nature of the activity, and the fact that being kind to the planet is one of our core values.” Using ethical, 100% fair wear cotton garments; recycled, British made card; and only water based inks, they leave little to no waste.
Sessions in the print studio focus not only on mastering the technical aspects of printing, but also on encouraging each individual’s creativity and confidence. Their supported staff are guided every step of the way, learning about colour mixing, burning and exposing screens, and print techniques. Each print that they produce is signed by both the artist and the person who printed it. These garments and prints are then sold in their flagship Sheffield store, as well as on their website, with 100% of profits going back into creating work opportunities.
Envisioning their future, Printed by Us hope to “expand our program, reach more people, and collaborate with more artists and organisations, both locally and globally.” As their operations grow, collectively they aim to raise greater awareness of the importance of ethical production and social enterprises, helping to drive a shift towards conscious, purpose-driven consumerism. They comment; “One of our key messages is ‘Putting people & planet over profit’ and this will always stand for us.”
Printed by Us conclude; “Our mission is rooted in two main goals: empowering people through creativity and championing eco-friendly practices. We are committed to producing high-quality, responsibly made products that resonate with people worldwide—not only for their purpose, but simply because they’re amazing. As a collaborative, we take pride in creating great, unique collections, and we want our products and values to be shared with an ever-wider audience.”
@printedbyus
www.printedbyus.org
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