2025 Women In Screen Printing Awards: Christine Geronimo

Christine Geronimo
Owner | Midnight Supply Company
Seattle, WA

CHRISTINE GERONIMO IS A trailblazer in the screen-printing industry, owning and operating Seattle’s Midnight Supply Co. for more than a decade. Inspired by her roots in live music and band merch, she has built a respected shop known for high-quality decorated apparel while championing inclusivity and community.

Geronimo founded the Colorways Summit, a nationally recognized platform empowering women of color in print and has served on the Gildan Board of Decorators. With fierce determination and a generous spirit, she continues to lead by example, shaping a more inclusive future for the industry.

Q: You transitioned from managing band merchandise to owning Midnight Supply Co. What key lessons did you learn in that transition?

Patience and flexibility have been the biggest lessons. I’ve learned to approach management with empathy, and an understanding that employees have lives outside the shop. Whether it’s doctor’s appointments or personal obligations, I want them to feel supported not stressed. That mindset has been key to building a strong culture at Midnight.

Q: When you took over Midnight Supply Co. in 2015, what changes did you make right away?

The biggest change was setting order minimums. Before I took over, the shop would say yes to everything, even unsustainable jobs like four setups for 12 shirts. That approach tanked the schedule. Setting a 50-piece minimum allowed us to manage production more effectively and reduce stress.

Q: Since taking over the business, what has been your toughest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

The pandemic was tough, but honestly, last year was harder. We had multiple staff members leave back-to-back for personal reasons — everything from early maternity leave to family challenges — and it left us extremely short-staffed. At one point, we went from printing eight-color process jobs to struggling to complete a one-color.

I had to step into production every day while still handling operations and sales. It was mentally and financially overwhelming. What got us through was teamwork, leaning on our industry network, and support from friends who came in to help train staff. It confirmed to me that this industry has people who will step up if you ask for help.

Q: Let’s talk about Colorways. What is it, and why did you start it?

Colorways is a space created to highlight and empower women of color in the print industry. It started after I attended a women’s conference where I realized I was one of only a few women of color in the room. I felt like a minority within a minority group, and a friend encouraged me to be the one to create change.

So, I pulled together my industry connections, secured sponsors like M&R and S&S Activewear, and launched Colorways in 2024. The event includes shop tours, panel discussions, and breakout sessions where women of color can share their experiences and find community. Year one was in Reno, year two in Chicago, and we’re planning year three now.

It’s been powerful to see how many women were waiting for something like this. The goal is to keep expanding the network, inspiring confidence, and encouraging the attendance of allies who want to support and listen.

Q: Have you ever considered lowering your minimums with DTG or DTF?

We’ve considered it. We don’t have DTG or DTF in-house, so we outsource transfers and press them here. For a time, I experimented with orders under 25 pieces, but those often created more problems than they were worth. Ultimately, our core focus remains screen printing and embroidery, and that’s where we deliver the most value.

Interestingly, some local shops have closed their screen-printing departments to focus on digital, which has created more opportunity for us to serve those customers.

Q: A year ago, you had a rough patch with several employees leaving in a short time period for nonwork related reasons making you understaffed and struggling to get out orders. Looking back, was any of that preventable?

No. These were real-life circumstances no one could have predicted. The silver lining was I gained a deeper appreciation for the role of the press operator. Being in production every day gave me a better understanding of what that job really takes, and it made me a smarter leader.

Q:Did the experience change how you manage the shop?

Definitely. We’re now heavily focused on tracking numbers — how long tasks actually take, what our true capacity is, and how we can schedule more realistically. We’ve also tried to get ahead of things like garment counting and job prep instead of doing everything last minute. It feels like starting fresh in some ways, but we’re building smarter systems now.

Q: What would you say is your greatest accomplishment so far?

Reaching 10 years with Midnight Supply Co. We’ve survived a pandemic, staffing challenges, even a fire in our shop earlier this year — and we’re still standing. That milestone gave me the confidence to ask, “What else can I do for this industry?” and that’s how Colorways was born.

Q: As a woman — and a woman of color — leading in a traditionally male-dominated industry, what do you feel sets you apart as a leader?

I think fearlessness. Pushing Colorways forward was difficult because it’s a conversation not everyone wants to have, and I had never done anything like it before. But I trusted my skills to organize, connect, and bring people together. Seeing sponsors and attendees respond so positively gave me confidence to keep going.

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