PROCESS
Thief&Bandit is a brand with a wild spirit, exploring and challenging the norms of both excitement in fashion and production integrity.
We have always been the outsiders doing things our way, our small design team creating every Thief&Bandit collection from sketch to seam. Our values have stayed the same for over 15 years- all of our fabric is printed by hand and garments are sewn by hand. We are a made-to-order business with every order fulfilled in our fashion studio. A commitment to sustainability means we work with only organic textiles: jerseys, cottons, raw silks, georgette, french terry. The water based acrylic inks we print with are non-toxic, making them safe for waterways and our oceans. And our prints are immediately recognizable- they are sporadic, lively, wild spirited and unusual, speaking to those with the same fierce spirit. Every Thief&Bandit collection begins with the same intent- for our garments to empower the wearer, the same way we feel when we create them.
Our workspace is a full production fashion studio, located at 1673 Barrington street, on the second level of a historic building in downtown Halifax. The open concept space is home to a 17ft long print table and sewing studio.
meet the Founder
Hi! I’m Amie, and I started Thief&Bandit 16 years ago while pregnant with my first child, Wolfgang. That moment marked the beginning of Thief&Bandit becoming “official,” though I’d been making art for as long as I can remember.
After graduating from Parsons School of Design with a Master’s in Painting and Sculpture, I unexpectedly found my way to screen printing. A friend asked if I could help print T-shirts for her punk band, and I instantly fell in love with the process. I began designing my own tees, selling them straight out of my backpack outside bars in Brooklyn.
I couldn’t stop turning my art into wearable pieces, and before long, misprinted tees (there were many) became jewelry — waste not, want not. My husband and creative partner, Johnston, and I hit the road on the Renegade Craft Fair circuit with four-month-old Wolfgang in tow. We had an absolute blast meeting friends and connecting with customers in Chicago, NYC, LA, and San Francisco.
A couple of years later, we found ourselves pregnant again and decided to move back home to Canada (new baby, free healthcare — a no-brainer). We started the business from scratch in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and haven’t looked back since.
Thief&Bandit has truly been a labor of love. Being able to share my art with you all is incredibly meaningful, and creating and collaborating every day with my talented team is a gift I never take for granted.
SCREEN PRINTING
Once the designs are finalized, they are transferred onto giant silk screens, preparing them for the screen printing process. This process is carried out in our production space, where we handprint our fabric. We sometimes use up to five different colors of paint on a single fabric. Each color represents a separate layer that must dry before the next one is applied. This layered approach ensures vibrant, long-lasting prints.
DESIGN
After the printing process, the large sheets of fabric are cut into patterns according to the orders we receive. Our designer carefully cuts each design, transforming the printed fabric into the individual pieces that will form your garment.
SEWING
After the printing process, the large sheets of fabric are cut into patterns according to the orders we receive. Our designer carefully cuts each design, transforming the printed fabric into the individual pieces that will form your garment.
MINIMIZING WASTE
We strive to use every bit of fabric. Any leftover material from the cutting process is saved and reintegrated into special projects like our REWORKED pieces or scrap bundles, minimizing waste and promoting creativity.