October 2022.
Dear Surface Dweller,
Summer has come around again, so on Saturdays 10 am–2 pm you will find Shaun manning the Surface Active New Brighton Seaside Market stall, where you’ll find the range of our original prints on t-shirts, housewares and wall art. Look forward to seeing you there.
Pleased to report that on Tuesday 11th October Shaun installed our Retrospective Exhibition: 1986–2022 at “Down by the sea” gallery, 105 New Brighton Mall, which will be up until Christmas. The exhibition is a platform for all our original prints. Visit the gallery to see our wildlife art exhibition
Delighted that Surface Active t-shirts have got a new retail outlet in New Brighton, Tuesday–Sunday at the Pier People store. It’s the perfect location right on Seaview Road, number 103, just before the main entrance to New Brighton Mall.
| The design pARTners’ bio |
Designing and printing since the 80s, Surface Active—The New Zealand Nature T-shirt Company, was established when we, Shaun Waugh and Chrissie Terpstra, as a couple—a graphic designer and a seamstress/fashionista—found a shared hobby as design pARTners in the artisan hand screenprinting and hand painting of “best in class” New Zealand nature t-shirts.
After our ‘big O.E.’ in ‘88 we developed our hobby into a small business centred on the bespoke “back shed” screenprinting facility that Chrissie and I designed and constructed for specialised printing with only water-based inks that would not disturb the natural beauty of our beachside setting in South Brighton, Christchurch, New Zealand.
While our business ethics of supporting the local economy meant that our overseas tourist customers at the Arts Centre Market and people in Christchurch got good pure cotton t-shirts 100% well made in New Zealand.
With design emphasis on the wonders of the natural world and production methods that meet rigid ecological standards, our love of nature, wildlife art, graphic design and printmaking has always been reflected in everything we do.
Years of experience with water-based ink and hand-separated artwork allow our printing to be accurately detailed and brilliantly coloured.
In the early 90s, Shaun added to his talent stack by upgrading his analogue graphic design, colour management and print production skills to the new world of digital design and, in 2020 and during lockdowns ‘20 and ‘21 Direct To Garment digital printing technologies that print with water-based inks. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
From whales to wetas, paua to penguins—please browse through our fabulous global online retail store and see if there’s something for you.
Actively yours,
Shaun Waugh (boss)
Chrissie Terpstra (bossier)
