Our Heritage

Shirtworks has been printing custom clothing in Oxford since 1986. From a market stall in the Jam Factory to a full-service decoration workshop, our story is a long history of investing in better print technology and serving customers who care about quality.

We started by selling printed t-shirts to tourists at the Jam Factory market in Oxford. Within a year we were the first to print the now-iconic Oxford University design, sold from a wicker basket on the back of a bicycle. As demand grew, we invested in the equipment and the people to make Shirtworks one of the most established custom apparel printers in the country.

Milestones

• 1986 — Founded in Oxford, selling printed t-shirts at the Jam Factory market.
• 1987 — First to print the Oxford University design, sold from a wicker-basket bicycle.
• 1990 — First 8-colour automatic screen printing machine in the workshop.
• 1996 — One of the first UK screen printers with a website.
• 2009 — Soil Association accreditation — Europe's only printer with this certification at the time.
• 2014 — Living Wage employer accreditation; commitment to fair pay across the team.
• 2018 — Fair Wear Foundation supplier partnerships expanded across the catalogue.
• 2020+ — Shipping to five continents, working with internationally-recognised socially responsible brands.

Why our heritage matters

Decades of hands-on production mean we know which garments hold up to a wash test, which inks hit the right colour first time, and which artwork files need a tweak before they go on press. Customers benefit from that experience on every order — fewer reprints, fewer surprises, and a finished garment that does what it's supposed to do.

Learn more about Shirtworks or get a quote for your next project.