I <3 171 Chapin Silkscreen Printmaking
February 2023 – May 2025
What started as a one-off shirt design for a house show turned into a silkscreen identity that’s now become a visual thread across everything 171 Chapin does. This ongoing project blends design, community, and DIY energy into wearable moments—each tee printed by hand, each drop unique.
From kitchen screenprint setups to gallery installations, these shirts have traveled far—from Binghamton basements to pop-ups downtown and photoshopped racks at Boscov’s. I designed and printed dozens of shirts under the 171 name, with the help of friends, including the original I ❤️ 171 Chapin tee, “Freakish Lizard” variants drawn by Ethan DePinto, and experimental multi-color runs.
Every shirt was screenprinted onto thrifted and washed blanks using hand-cut stencils or screens, acetate, and a rotating set of ink combos. In some drops—like for the band Freakish Lizard—I used laser-cut stencils based on Ethan’s drawing, digitized it, and spray-painted the shirts to quickly turn around a last-minute release. This hybrid workflow of silkscreen and spray-painting became part of the visual identity and urgency behind the brand.
Over time, as my style, techniques, and skills matured through school, so did the screen itself. Earlier marks and ghost prints slowly faded, and at some point this year, the screen was fully wiped in preparation for a new halftone-forward design—marking a shift in both visual direction and intention.
These shirts weren’t just made for fun—they were sold at several events to raise money for local charities. This project, while grounded in print, was always about more than the shirt. It became a way to build community, raise awareness, and turn graphic design into something physical, memorable, and useful.
→ [Check out related posts on @5tigDesign and @171chapin]