At Printed By Us, we believe in the power of creativity—not just as a way to make something beautiful, but as a way to change lives. That’s why we were so proud to partner with the University of Sheffield to create custom t-shirts for two of their flagship events: Festival of the Mind and Off the Shelf Festival of Words.
These t-shirts aren’t just stylish—they’re full of purpose. Every one of them was hand-printed in our Sheffield workshop by people rebuilding their lives after facing challenges like homelessness, addiction, or unemployment. This collaboration is a celebration of local creativity, resilience, and the incredible power of community.
Festivals That Bring Sheffield to Life
The University of Sheffield is at the heart of some of the city’s most exciting cultural events, and we were thrilled to play a part in making them happen.
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Festival of the Mind, held in September, is a biennial event that showcases cutting-edge research from the University of Sheffield, brought to life through collaborations with the city’s creative, cultural, and digital industries. From exhibitions to performances, the festival transforms Sheffield’s city centre into a hub of free, innovative events for everyone to enjoy.
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Off the Shelf Festival of Words, held in October, has been entertaining audiences for over three decades. This year’s festival brought literary heavyweights like Richard Ayoade, Sara Pascoe, and David Olusoga to stages across Sheffield, alongside a vibrant mix of local and international talent.
Both festivals rely on dedicated teams of staff and volunteers to make everything run smoothly—and this year, those teams will be kitted out in custom t-shirts printed by us!
Hand-Printed with Care
Every t-shirt for Festival of the Mind and Off the Shelf was printed in our Orchard Square workshop, using the traditional method of hand screen printing. This process is central to what we do, as it’s not just a craft but a meaningful and therapeutic activity for the people we support.
Our team takes pride in every step of the process, from carefully preparing the screens to pulling the ink by hand, ensuring the highest quality with every print. We also use eco-friendly, fairwear-approved garments made from organic cotton and water-based inks, so the t-shirts are as ethical as they are beautiful.
By combining sustainability with craftsmanship, these t-shirts are not only helping festival staff and volunteers stand out in style but also supporting people in their journeys toward confidence, stability, and fulfilling lives.
Making a Difference Through Social Enterprise
Printed By Us was born out of the Archer Project, a Sheffield-based charity supporting people facing homelessness. Since our beginnings, we’ve been on a mission to provide supported employment opportunities to those who need a helping hand to rebuild their lives.
Through our workshops and studio, people who’ve experienced homelessness or vulnerability gain new skills, build confidence, and work toward independence. Every product we create—from custom t-shirts like these to our exclusive prints, mugs, and garments—supports that mission.
And because 100% of our profits are reinvested into our social enterprise, every order has a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people we work with.
A Word from the University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a huge supporter of local businesses, and it was their commitment to supporting the community that brought us together for this collaboration.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City, Culture and Public Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said:
*“Off the Shelf Festival of Words and Festival of the Mind bring tens of thousands of people to Sheffield city centre each year, and we always try to support our partners in the local community as much as possible.
“That’s why Printed By Us was the perfect choice for the printing of our festival t-shirts. It’s a wonderful social enterprise doing incredible work in the community, and we’re delighted to be able to give something back.
“As you’ll see from the pictures of our fabulous t-shirts, the fantastic team at Printed By Us has done a brilliant job and we can’t wait to show them off to festival goers.”*
Building Community Through Collaboration
This project has been a truly meaningful experience for us. Evie, one of our team members, shared what it meant to work on these t-shirts:
*“Printing the t-shirts for the University’s two flagship festivals has been an incredible opportunity for us, and all members of staff involved have really enjoyed seeing the designs and their hard work come to fruition.
“It’s really important for us to engage in our community, and the University of Sheffield is a massive part of that! We’ve had amazing volunteers from the University in the past, and we hope to continue building our relationship in the future.”*
A Big Thank You
We’re incredibly grateful to the University of Sheffield for trusting us to produce the t-shirts for these two fantastic festivals. It’s partnerships like this that allow us to continue our work and make a difference in people’s lives, one print at a time.
We’d also like to thank Orchard Square, where our print workshop is based, for their ongoing support of our mission. As Shay Murray, Orchard Square’s Centre Manager, said:
“Printed By Us is a popular destination for our visitors, renowned for high-quality and ethical garments—as well as supporting positive change. The t-shirts developed for the volunteers at this year’s Off the Shelf and Festival of the Mind look fantastic! Congratulations to all involved, and wishing the University of Sheffield all the best with both festivals.”
Join Us in Making a Difference
Interested in working with us for your own custom project? Get in touch via our website to learn more about how we can help bring your designs to life. Every order you place supports our mission to empower people through creativity.
