Why We Screen Print (and Why It Matters)
At Daughter of Fire, nothing we make is accidental. Every tee, every tote, every act of rebellion you wear has been chosen with intention - from the inks we print with, to the hands that bring it to life.
Because when you’re building a brand rooted in defiance, you can’t compromise on your values.
Why Screen Printing?
Screen printing is the art of layering ink directly into fabric - not sitting plasticky on top like some mass-production methods. The result? Prints that last, age beautifully, and feel like part of the shirt itself.
But here’s the real kicker: we don’t just screen print. We use Permaset eco-friendly, vegan, water-based inks.
Why Water-Based Inks?
Most big-name brands use plastisol inks or cheaper DTF (direct-to-film) printing. Here’s the problem:
Plastisol inks are made from PVC (yep, the same stuff used in pipes and vinyl). They require harsh chemicals to clean up, release microplastics, and never truly break down. Great for profits, terrible for the planet.
DTF printing relies on plastic transfer sheets that leave a heavy, plastic-like finish on shirts - faster and cheaper, but it sheds microplastics every wash.
By contrast, our Permaset water-based inks:
Are free from toxic chemicals, PVC, and phthalates.
Are certified vegan and eco-friendly.
Soak into the fabric, leaving a soft feel (not a thick, plasticky patch).
Use water clean-up - meaning no harsh solvents go down the drain.
They’re better for you, better for the people making them, and better for the earth.
The Shirts We Screen Print On
A great design deserves the perfect canvas. That’s why the shirts we choose are carefully selected to match the quality and longevity of our screen printing process.
We use premium shirts from AS Colour, a brand committed to quality, sustainability, and ethical production. Their finely combed cotton provides a soft, smooth canvas for our vegan, water-based inks, ensuring prints stay vibrant, crisp, and durable.
AS Colour’s commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our slow fashion ethos. They focus on durable fabrics, traceable supply chains, and high ethical standards - meaning the shirts you wear aren’t just soft and well-fitting, they’re made with care for people and the planet. Unlike fast fashion pieces, these tees are built to last season after season, holding both their shape and your statement.
By combining these premium shirts with our small-batch, local screen printing, each piece is intentionally crafted, from the fabric to the print.
Why Local Matters
We don’t ship our designs offshore to anonymous factories where quality, safety, and wages are afterthoughts. Instead, we work with Nedlands Studio, a local screen printing company that shares our values.
That means:
Supporting local makers, not sweatshops.
Ensuring safe work conditions and fair pay.
Smaller runs = no overproduction, no waste.
Craftsmanship and care in every single piece.
It’s not the “cheap” way. But it’s the right way.
Why We Don’t Mass Produce
Fast fashion thrives on volume: pump out as much as possible, sell it cheap, dump what doesn’t sell. It’s a cycle of waste and exploitation.
We’ve said no.
Every Daughter of Fire drop is small-batch, slow, and intentional. That means you’re not just buying another tee - you’re part of a rebellion against throwaway culture. You’re choosing something designed to last, created with care, and made without harm.
Fire That Lasts
When you wear Daughter of Fire, you’re not just wearing ink on fabric. You’re wearing a statement - one that refuses shortcuts, refuses exploitation, and refuses to settle for anything less than ethical.
Fashion can be fierce and kind. Sassy and sustainable. That’s the fire we’re building.
