About Fireproof Apparel
Get to Know Us
Fireproof Apparel has been bringing bold, custom screen-printed designs to life since 2009. We are located in Winnipeg and proudly serve clients across Manitoba and neighboring provinces. However, our story started long before then—rooted in creativity, music, and a relentless passion for design.
Today, Fireproof Apparel is a full-fledged screen printing operation. We continually upgrade our equipment, refine our processes, and ensure that every product meets our customers’ needs, budget, and timelines. We take pride in delivering high-quality prints that stand the test of time.
Our Origin Story
Time has been good to us
1987
Where It All Began
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to art. Skateboard graphics, band logos, and album covers fueled my creativity. Thumbing through Thrasher magazine, I tried to emulate the art I saw created by my brands like Santa Cruz and Powell & Peralta. Those early influences shaped my artistic journey and laid the foundation for what would later become Fireproof Apparel.
1989
First Foray Into Screen Printing
Skateboarding and playing guitar naturally led to an interest in the production of streetwear. A good buddy and I dreamed of launching our own brand, so we took the plunge with a humble Speedball screen printing kit. The results were less than stellar, but that initial failure planted the seeds for something much bigger.
1993
The Band Merch Days
In the early ’90s, I teamed up with some college friends to form Bigtime Nobody, an alternative/punk rock band. As our gigs increased, so did our need for merch. Hiring a printer was expensive, so we dusted off that old Speedball kit, designed some simple graphics, and spent countless nights printing T-shirts before shows. Those DIY merch sessions rekindled my love for screen printing.
1998
The End of an Era—And a New Beginning
After years of playing shows and earning my education degree, the band eventually called it quits. Life was shifting—new careers, marriages, and growing families took priority. But the passion for design and screen printing never left.
2004
Getting Our Feet Wet With New Tech
After a few years of teaching, my love for graphic design found its way into school websites and promo materials—while a streetwear brand idea quietly brewed in the background.
When the chance to print shirts for a Christmas play popped up, I jumped in headfirst. A crash course of YouTube tutorials and trial-and-error later, that small project unexpectedly ignited Fireproof Apparel.
2009
Spend Money to make money
Determined to speed things up and print multiple colors at once, I reached out to a local screen-printing supplier—and walked away with an old Lancer 4×4 press that had been living under a tarp. $250 later, I was sanding, painting, and restoring the machine that would go on to produce tens of thousands of prints.
Soon, evenings and weekends filled with print jobs and family life. As demand grew, I reinvested in better gear, evolving a basement DIY setup into a professional print shop ready for anything.
2018
Opportunity to grow again
As things picked up and orders rolled in, it was clear—it was time to level up. One print job at a time, the humble basement DIY setup started evolving. What began as a scrappy, passion-fueled workspace slowly morphed into a shop composed of industry standard equipment. With commercial-grade equipment in the mix, we could take on bigger and even more complex jobs. We are always pursuing excellence as we move forward in the industry.
Present Day
always looking forward
The future of Fireproof Apparel is still being written. As we grow, our focus remains on delivering quality prints for our clients—and we can’t wait to see where the next chapter leads. One thing’s certain: our passion for screen printing isn’t going anywhere.