We Print Stuff on Things – it’s not just a catchy slogan, it’s an approach to problem solving in the studio that clearly defines what we do. And Etsy likes our approach and attitude to our craft, because they support and value craftsmanship and creativity.

Kong began printing for Etsy during SxSW when we received an urgent call from Randy J Hunt, Etsy Creative Director. They were in need of  T-shirts for an event that they decided to participate in at the last moment. They wanted to promote a new project, Code as Craft.  We worked with Randy to produce glow in the dark shirts for that first event under a tight deadline. Since that time, we’ve continued to print shirts for Etsy events and programming.

Last month, Elana Dweck, Etsy’s Design Studio Manager, contacted us about a special project she was developing with Nicole Licht – handmade displays which would be used by Etsy partners. She needed 25 total displays to be fabricated and printed by hand. Etsy’s slogan is “Keeping it Real” and they wanted to invest the production of these displays with those values.

Bolts of sweet potato colored canvas began arriving to the Kong studios and we began plotting the best way to handle printing large format work by hand. Our large work tables became templates to streamline cutting all the fabric. New screens that would barely fit in our exposure unit were procured. Our friend Jim Braglia came in to provide some extra muscle and brain power for problem solving. It took a solid week to produce 5 prototypes that served to refine the design. Kong is currently producing the other sets.

Working with Etsy is such a pleasure because they value good communication, hand crafted objects, attention to detail and doing things your own way. That’s something Kong values too.

It takes two!
Ryan (left) and Bruce (right) printing together