Do-it-yourself is not just a mantra for interior design and home maintenance, it’s a concept that can be applied to clothing as well.
This approach to fashion can help build a one of a kind wardrobe for the spring season. Not only will it keep the fashion conscious in style, but it will keep money in their wallets.
A printing company, Drive By Press, specializes in DIY printmaking. Drive By Press is a band of designers who tour the country in a van replete with heavy-duty printing equipment promoting what they call accessible and affordable “guerrilla art.”
Greg Nanney and Joseph Velasquez started Drive By Press in 2005 when they met in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. The two found that they shared a passion for printmaking. Nanney and Velasquez both sold off their possessions, ranging from art to instruments, to fund the 600 pound 14th century-style printing press they use to do on-site shirt pressings.
The two travel the country working a variety of events. They display their one of a kind apparel at art exhibitions, university campuses and at concerts for bands like Spoon and Chromeo.
“It’s an educational endeavor, that’s the whole idea behind Drive By Press,” said Nick Alley, who has worked for the Drive By Press team for a little over a year. “It’s supposed to be art for everyone. It’s supposed to be affordable and really give access to not just people who go to galleries and museums and corporations that buy a lot of art, but regular folks.”
Customers become part of the printmaking experience after they order a shirt from the Drive By Press team. They can then customize the color, style of pressing, and position on the shirt, making the final product of each shirt a unique creation.
The pressings are made when designs are cut out of a block of wood and filled with ink. The wood block is then pressed onto blank apparel. The designs are all custom-made by the team.
“It’s basically a big stamp,” Alley said.
Matt Hopson-Walker, an art professor at Fresno State, has been involved with bringing the Drive By Press team to college campuses. Hopson-Walker said that he was so impressed with their ability that he invited them to Fresno State as soon as he was hired.
“I first met the Drive By Press guys at the [Southern Graphics Council] and [Mid-America Print Council] printmaking conferences. I was blown away by their ideology, presentation, DIY attitude, and general printmaking excitement,” Hopson-Walker said. “They have a great impact on our print students and really get them excited about their own art. They are disseminating art and a passion for the act of making it.”
Alicia Cortez, an art major at Fresno State, agreed with Hopson Walker, stating that bringing guests to campus like Drive By Press has spurred interest in art for some students.
“They’re getting art out there in a cool way that non-art people will like,” Cortez said.
The printing for the shirts costs $20 unless one is provided, reducing the price to $10.
Alley said that working for the Drive By Press team has been a remarkable experience.
“We wake up every day excited to get to do what we do,” Alley said.
Samples of the teams work can be viewed at their Web site, drivebypress.com. They can also be contacted via email for questions and booking at [email protected].