Recently, we took the opportunity to bring together some of New South Wales' female decorators to celebrate International Women's Day and share their experiences in the industry.
We broke bread at The Grounds of Alexandria at a table with Jamie (Ssweatshop), Meagan (Halo Print Co), Mel (Sweeney Bros Print Co.), Emma and Lisa (Softpower), Shanelle (Wazzup Screen Printing), Channtel and Holly (Thread And Butter), Carizza (Carizza Print) and Pamela (T-1 Print).
It was awesome to see so many of Australia’s leading women in the decorated apparel industry together and building strong, long-lasting connections that will continue well beyond the lunch. Not only was this a chance to spotlight some of the incredible people we partner with, but also to gain better insight into what makes these individuals powerful in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Meagan | Halo Print Co.
I’m Meagan, and Halo Print Co. is my heart and soul based in St Peters. We’re a female-led design & print studio that lives for the moment a client's idea comes to life on a tee for the first time. Whether it's print or design, we just love making cool things with cool people inside our cheeky & pink lil retail shop.
Building Halo has taught me that being "soft" is actually a superpower. In a traditionally male dominated industry, I’ve found strength in leading with kindness and after 5 years of staying true, we can now see that philosophy permeate the industry. It takes a quiet kind of courage to hold your own as a woman in print and build a space where the team feels like family. For us it’s not just about printing shirts; it’s about having the heart to show up for our clients, trust our eyes and experience to give the best result, and keep the vibes high especially when the job board floods with same day orders & we've gotta hustle.
haloprintco.com | @haloprintco
Channtel & Holly | Thread & Butter
We have been running this shop for 11 years and in the industry for 16 years.
Building our own decorating studio has taught us to not ever take sh*t personally. Every day is a new day. Not everyone will love you, so don’t do this for anyone else but you. We do this because we love fashion, being creative and helping people look good. Always remember why you are doing what you do, otherwise what is the point?
threadandbutter.com.au | @threadandbutter
Mel | Sweeney Bros Screen Printing
I’m one of the owners of Sweeney Bros Screen Printing, a family-run print studio that has been operating in Sydney for 17 years. My partner Jimmy and his brother Simon originally built the business from the ground up; I joined the team about 7 years ago. Even before officially stepping into ownership, I had always approached every role I held as if the business were my own, so the transition felt natural. There’s something special about being part of a family business; the values are embedded in everything we do. It’s never just about printing garments, it’s about reputation, relationships, and longevity.
Over the years, Sweeney Bros has grown into a well-established decorating studio known for quality, reliability, and strong partnerships. While screen printing is our foundation, we’ve always believed in building something sustainable and forward-thinking. We’re proud to be a small business that operates with professionalism and heart. We're hands-on, solutions-focused, and constantly evolving. Seventeen years in, we still approach the work with the same care and pride as day one, but with the experience and confidence that only time in the industry can bring.
Building and helping lead a decorating studio has reinforced that strength isn’t something you switch on when you need it. It has to be built into the way you operate every day. In every role I’ve ever had I’ve approached the work as if the business depended on it, because it does. That mindset carries through into ownership. You’re constantly thinking beyond today’s production schedule or this month’s targets. You have to think five steps ahead, making decisions that protect and grow the business long term, not just in the moment.
Courage, for me, has meant being willing to look outside the box. It’s easy to stay comfortable doing what you’re good at, but real growth often comes from exploring new opportunities, diversifying revenue streams, and keeping an open mind to ideas that might feel unfamiliar at first. Not every idea works and that’s okay. Part of strength in business is being willing to test, learn quickly, pivot if needed, and move forward without hesitation.
As a small business, you also learn to tackle challenges head-on. Problems don’t sit on a shelf, they’re addressed immediately and with a solution-focused mindset. That daily discipline builds resilience. Creatively, professionally, and personally, it’s taught me that courage isn’t loud, it’s consistent. It’s the quiet confidence to make decisions, back yourself, and keep building something that lasts.
sweeneybrosprint.com | @sweeneybrosprint
Pamela | T-1 Print
I am the founder and owner of T-1 Print, we are a large contract screen printing business in Marrickville, NSW. There is a strong focus on sustainability at T-1, trying to be as kind to the planet as possible in what is quite a dirty industry. Whatever information we have gained we have made a point of sharing with the industry, trying to get other businesses involved.
The printing industry can be tough, it requires resilience and determination to survive. As T-shirt printing is seasonal, it takes a certain strength to ride the highs and lows. There is a camaraderie amongst many of the printers in our area which is both a comfort and a strength.
t-1print.com.au | @t1print
Shannelle | Wazzup Screen Printing
Hi! I’m Shannelle, a second-generation printer at Wazzup Screen Printing, based in the Shire, Sydney. My dad has been running print companies since I learned how to walk, so the print world has always felt like home. Today, we’re a predominantly wholesale screen-printing company, specialising in large-run production as well as DTF on-demand. We work closely with other decorators, brands and businesses, and love being the behind-the-scenes team that helps bring their projects to life.
Building and leading within our business has been a lesson in quiet strength for me. The print industry can be fast-moving and demanding, and there’s always pressure to deliver — on time, at scale, and to a high standard. It’s taught me that courage doesn’t always look bold or loud. Sometimes it’s about making steady decisions, backing yourself, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone to improve how things are done.
Being a woman in a traditionally hands-on, production-driven industry has also shaped that perspective. There’s something powerful about carving out space at the table, bringing a different leadership style, and showing that strength can look collaborative, thoughtful and adaptable. I’ve learned the importance of trusting my instincts, staying open to change, and building systems and a team culture that supports growth.
For me, strength is showing up consistently, embracing innovation while respecting experience, and continuing to move forward, even when the path isn’t perfectly clear.
wazzup.au | @wazzupscreenprint
Lisa & Emma | Soft Power
After a decade of working in the industry for other companies we created our own studio in 2023, Soft Power. A name that comes from the tender strength held by female identifying people. A calm care, a collaboration, a problem-solving project where no idea is silly. We started Soft Power to carve out a space that is safe and fun for ourselves, our team and our clients to explore ideas and flourish in a male dominated field - all the while producing high quality prints on high quality garments that we hope circulate op-shops for decades to come.
Honestly, we started our small business during a recession basically, post pandemic, which had Australia in economic turmoil. It was a trial by fire that only other business owners understand, and it’s this that has allowed us to relate to our clients (who are mostly also small local businesses) in a way we are truly grateful for. They are a constant source of courage and inspiration that we draw from. Over the years we have become a part of their communities. We lean on each other when times are tough and understand the impact of supporting local, small businesses for quality products that will last.
softpowerstudio.com.au | @softpower_studio
Jamie | SSPRINT
I’m Jamie Han, co-owner of SSPRINT (Formerly SSWEATSHOP). We’re based in Marrickville, the heart of Sydney's Inner West. My husband and I started SSPRINT nine years ago, both self-taught, coming out of the fashion design and graphic design industries. We began servicing streetwear brands, breweries, and local cafes with screen printing, embroidery, and digital hybrid printing. Our business now predominantly services the music industry, fashion brands, as well as promotional and still our very loyal local businesses.
The last decade, I’ve learnt through a lot of late nights, missed dinners and broken nails how truly strong the willpower of a woman is. What started as a very calm print studio (Just Van, Myself and our dog) is now a beast of its own, and I wouldn’t change any part of the process. Courage to push through the harder times, the not-so-easy days, is where our growth happens. I don’t believe in luck; it's determination, mental strength and being across the road from great coffee that gets us by.
ssprint.com.au | @_ssweatshop_
Carizza | Carizza Print
I’m originally form rural NSW and studied at the Eastern Sydney Institute of Technology. I have been running my own screen-printing studio, The Printroom, since 2010, currently located in Marrickville. I print merch, run workshops and create designs and artworks to sell at markets and exhibit. I also volunteer run the art studio where my business resides. I have a strong DIY ethic and love skill sharing and am driven to re-use and reduce waste materials from the studio.
Building my own screen-printing business in a male dominated industry showed courage from the get go. There have definitely been challenges along the way. The Printroom has been operating for 16 years and has evolved into a business with many faces to meet the needs of my people. I print for clients, teach and work on my own practice. I think making space for flexibility has kept me engaged over the years.
I guess coming from a low socio-economic background promoted creativity and resourcefulness in launching the business, for example, my first yardage table was crafted from metal crates used to house motorbikes during shipping. I’ve always preferred to reuse ex equipment from past businesses and save items from going to landfill. In the early days I was involved with a group who accessed unused commercial sites for creative projects rent free, but now I am fortunate to run my studio out of a shared artist space. So The Printroom has taught me the courage to deviate from the norm.
Personally, running the business has strengthened my resilience and confidence because if you don’t believe in yourself, no-one will.
Working out of a shared art studio has been great for creative opportunities with others and being surrounded by a supportive community. Working with clients with ambitious needs has expanded my knowledge which flows into my own creative practice. Teaching others had also forced me to have a better understanding of my practice and, you know, speak it loudly.
Professionally, being a woman business owner required further resilience. I’ve had to advocate for my worth, and hold boundaries with confidence. Choosing to build an affordable studio in a market driven by speed and mass production took courage. I am not just running a business, I aim to be a part of a community and strive to lead in a way that is collaborative, educational, and more accessible.
I am a stronger person for having run The Printroom.
carizzadesigns.com | @carizza_designs_theprintroom
Photographed by Erika Arabit
at the Grounds of Alexandria