Printshop Tour | Publisher Textiles and Papers
There is something about seeing a pair of long printing tables stretching the entire length of a studio space that fills you with a sense of possibility and creative potential. We had visited Publisher Textiles and Papers almost 10 years ago but walking back into their extensive printshop space recently filled us again with this contagiously inspired feeling.
Publisher has been running for nearly 25 years and during that time has become Australia’s largest manufacturer of hand-printed textiles while evolving to now encompass an original line of wallpapers, printed apparel and unique homewares in addition to their hallmark textiles. Co-owners and partners Mark Cawood and Stephanie Isaac-Newton were generous enough to show us around and share what all they were working on.
What has been a major development for Publisher has been the cultivation of long-term collaborations with numerous indigenous art centers in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory. Since 2015, Stephanie has managed Publisher’s working relationship with these centers, and the artists they represent. Front of mind for Stephanie is ensuring that pricing and licensing agreements are equitable and fairly compensate the indigenous artists collaborators while also producing the highest quality outcomes possible. She is also the creative force behind the apparel that Publisher designs and manufactures - all sewn in-house.
Mark heads up the production side of things and brings to the running of Publisher an enormously deep knowledge of commercial printing processes. He has basically been screenprinting professionally since he left high school and runs Publisher with an efficiency and thrift that is certainly impressive – if not, a little intimidating. We left thinking we should probably be buying emulsion by the 55-gallon drum lest we miss out on some serious cost-savings!
It's incredible to have this kind of a studio continuing to enrich Sydney’s printing ecosystem. In an overpriced city with a severe lack of affordable space for creative businesses, they are a really unique operation and certainly one well worth supporting.
More information: publishertextiles.com.au
