Press Releases

Teen Fashion Designer Headlines Breakfast at Printing United

Published

5 years ago

May 23, 2019

Ariel Swedroe, a 15-year-old fashion designer, will start the day on an inspirational note as the Women in Print Alliance Breakfast’s keynote speaker on October 24 at 7:30 AM at PRINTING United (October 23 – 25, Dallas).

In an interview with Women in Print Alliance advisory committee member Adrienne Palmer, Editor-in-Chief of Big Picture and Screen Printing magazines, Swedroe will speak about her life’s journey, her passion for fashion and how she brings artwork to life in the fabrics and apparel she designs. Sponsored by Stahls’, the event will also include presentations from members of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s (SGIA) Women in Print Alliance advisory council and roundtable discussions for networking.

“Ariel’s story isn’t just about a remarkable young woman, it’s about how she’s using digital printing to create a product,” said Women in Print Alliance Chair Elaine Scrima, Vice President of Operations, GSP Companies.

Swedroe was seven years old when she fell in love with fashion. Inspired by the work of her grandfather, noted artist and architect Robert Swedroe, she began creating fabrics from his more than 900 collages in her early teens. She starts with a digital photo of the design, and after manipulating it to create just the look she wants, prints the fabric using heat transfer dye sublimation.

Her efforts go beyond her own studio, too. In addition to teaching pregnant teens in Cartagena, Colombia, to sew, Swedroe has worked with organizations such as CODella and Pearl Girls, which inspire girls to learn to code and follow their passions.

“The values Ariel puts into action are in line with what the Women in Print Alliance is all about,” Scrima added.

SGIA created the breakthrough Women in Print Alliance to attract the printing industry’s next generation of gifted women, retain and recognize those who are successfully serving the industry, and advance or promote talented women in print whose success would benefit the industry as a whole.

Women in Print Alliance speakers will cover topics including staying focused and motivated when crisis hits, knowing your value and holding conversations with confidence. Speakers include Kristin Lanzarone-Scribner, Owner, WrapStar Pro; Heather Roden, Strategic Account Manager, Zund Americas; Tiffany Rader Spitzer, Operations and Technical Product Manager, Roeder Industries; and Michelle White, Technical Market Manager, Vycom Plastics.

The Women in Print Alliance Breakfast is one of several networking events at PRINTING United — SGIA and NAPCO Media’s next iteration of the SGIA Expo. Tickets for the breakfast are $30 and are available while registering for PRINTING United. Registration for PRINTING United is free for members through September 10. Learn more and register at printingunited.com.

PRINTING United reflects SGIA’s continual goal to serve as the foremost resource for information and education for the printing industry at large. Access the many benefits SGIA membership offers by joining today at SGIA.org/membership or contacting membership@sgia.org.

Let’s Talk About It

Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Screen Printing Industry

LET’S TALK About It: Part 3 discusses how four screen printers have employed people with disabilities, why you should consider doing the same, the resources that are available, and more. Watch the live webinar, held August 16, moderated by Adrienne Palmer, editor-in-chief, Screen Printing magazine, with panelists Ali Banholzer, Amber Massey, Ryan Moor, and Jed Seifert. The multi-part series is hosted exclusively by ROQ.US and U.N.I.T.E Together. Let’s Talk About It: Part 1 focused on Black, female screen printers and can be watched here; Part 2 focused on the LGBTQ+ community and can be watched here.