The Designer's Guide to Los Angeles Letterpress Shops

As our design community integrates more handmade elements into their work and produce smaller runs, it's good to know that we have traditional shops here in SoCal who take the craft of printing seriously.

Importing English Tradition

Apparently, you can take the girl out of the Old World but you can’t take the Old World out of the girl. Sharon Shin, the owner of Papermum Press, learned to print at The Armory Center in Pasadena. She then moved to England to refine her craft and also learned the age-old arts of bookbinding and box-making at the famed Shepherds of London. She brought back stateside working as a teaching assistant for five years at Archetype Press at the Art Center College of Design.

Sharon Shin at Papermum Press
Sharon Shin at Papermum Press

Print production at Papermum Press is driven by a 1956 Heidelberg Windmill, a Swiss FAG flatbed, a 12 x 18 Chandler & Price treadle press, and a 1894 Golding Official press from England. Shin can combine old handset wooden or metal type with modern photopolymer plates.

Equipment at Papermum Press
Equipment at Papermum Press

Who: Papermum Press

Where: 414 Rolyn Place, Arcadia, California 91007. Visits by appointment only.

Phone: 626.278.4013

papermumpress.com

Passion for the Craft

Some remarkable companies have launched from a garage. Take Just Vandy, which started in a garage as a Vandercook proof press restoration project. True love grew for the meticulous attention to detail and craft, and owner Heather Mitchell began offering custom printing services.

Just Vandy Studio
Just Vandy Studio

Excited about her new love for the Vandercook proof press, she decided to seek out others with a similar devotion. After connecting with aficionados, she showcased 100 artisans in The Vandercook 100.

Just Vandy studio work
Just Vandy studio work

The studio offers custom printing services for invitations, business cards and more. Just Vandy also has a line of letterpress stationery characterized by its expressive typography, use of space and color.

Who: Just Vandy

Where: Torrance, California. Visits by appointment only.

Web:justvandy.com

Web:thevandercook100.com

Eco-Friendly

It’s not easy being green, but Invite Site/3Muse Press seems to be doing it beautifully. The company is the largest user of 100% PCW papers in L.A. Just about all their papers are sustainable including their alternative fiber papers such as cotton, hemp, mulberry and more. And they print with linseed (flaxseed) oil-based ink, which is better than soy.

InviteSite letterpress work
InviteSite letterpress work

Owners Scott Rubel and Helen Driscoll operate their invitation companies from a huge 5,000 sq. ft. studio in El Sereno, Los Angeles. Production is handled with five Chandler & Price handfed platen presses, a 2-color AB Dick for offset and a Kluge for diecutting. They can print on deckled handmade paper, diecut, and mix letterpress printing with offset and digital printing.

Who: Invitesite.com / 3Muse Press

Where: 5390 Alhambra Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90032

Phone: 626.864.0364

Web:invitesite.com

Web:3musepress.com

Learn About Letterpress

Would you know how to print on a 1928 Chandler & Price New Style or a Vandercook Universal 1 press in an emergency? Classes and workshops such as “Experimentations in Letterpress Printmaking” and “Vandercook Letterpress II” might save you. You can start your education at Panorama Press, at the International Printing Museum or at the Irvine Fine Arts Center. Panorama Press owner Madeleine Zygarewicz will teach you a thing or two about the art, craft and obsession of letterpress.

Panorama Press studio
Panorama Press studio

With over 17 years of printing experience, Zygarewicz combines new methods with old technology, using photo-polymer plates, handset type and carved linoleum blocks. She offers both design and printing, as well as customized flair—such as edge painting, die-cutting, and corner rounding.

Panorama Press work
Panorama Press work

Who: Panorama Press

Where: East Hollywood, California. Visits by appointment only.

Phone: 323.893.8058

Web:thepanoramapress.com

Bespoke Printing

Of course you can find made-to-order jeans on the Westside of LA, but who knew you could find haute couture stationery? At SweetWater Letterpress, everything is custom. They blend modern design with the meticulous craftsmanship of letterpress printing to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Owner Marc Wilczak and his team were designers and typographers before we were printers, back when everything went to print.

Sweetwater Press Studio
Sweetwater Press Studio

The team crafts their unique items with a pencil and paper. Their final work is printed with their antique equipment; a 1951 Vandercook No. 4, a 1951 Vandercook No. 1, a 1962 Chandler & Price Model N, a 1966 Kelsey Model U and a 1921 Golding Pearl paper cutter.

Sweetwater Letterpress invitation
Sweetwater Letterpress invitation

Who: SweetWater Letterpress

Where: 10054 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

Phone: 310.837.9500

Web:sweetwaterpress.com