NightOwl Custom Apparel recently relocated its screen printing and embroidery business to 7114 NE Glisan Street and launched its first customer-facing storefront. Partners Shelly Hill and Paul Hill ran this business for 15 years as a home-based operation, creating wearable promotional items and custom apparel for local groups. Portlanders have likely seen their work worn by 82nd Avenue parade volunteers and community athletes. NightOwl’s owners expanded onto NE Glisan to better connect with their community of supportive customers and to find more people looking for unique apparel made quickly in Portland.
NightOwl started as a growing Hill family changed their priorities. “My partner’s been in the [printing] industry for over 35 years, and it’s part of my daily life for over 30. When we had our son, we decided it was time to be done working for someone else who just had the money but not the knowledge. So we started our own business to be able to put family first,” recalled Shelly Hill. She explained that their business has remained consistent in many ways over the last decade and a half, printing by hand with a personal touch. However, the source artwork has evolved, requiring more pre-printing support to translate it onto clothing. “With AI, we’re seeing a lot of artwork that can’t be used, but it looks fantastic on a computer screen. We’ll work with them to get the image they want that works on the particular piece of apparel they’re putting it on. Because what looks great on a business card doesn’t work on a hat,” said Hill.
Shelly Hill was raised in a southern Illinois union household and supports people making a living wage wherever they work. That perspective guides the products they produce for clients. “We try to get U.S. made, but we have to be competitive. So we work through a local U.S. company that has their own [supply channel], generally in Honduras. They pay all their employees [fairly] wherever they are, and they take care of them,” explained Hill. She is also adamant that printing services remain in-house with a few exceptions. “As a general rule, when you’re in control of the production, you’re in control of the quality,” remarked Hill. People can work with them to create custom tablecloths, banners, signage, patches, travel mugs, and nearly any promotional items. They can also help with stickers through a local partner.
Most longtime clients value their quick turnaround time and focus on supporting local groups. “We work with Columbia Christian [School]. They called on Monday with a soccer camp starting on Wednesday, and we got the shirts done. We tell people it takes 10 to 12 business days, but we almost never take that long, and we understand small businesses don’t need 200 t-shirts at once. We’d love it if people would order at least 24 because it takes time and materials to set up. However, we did one shirt for someone kicking off their business just this week that needed something,” recalled Hill. “We try to support our community every way we can. We make Street Roots stuff at cost. We don’t charge them, and we don’t charge Columbia Slough.”
NightOwl Custom Apparel held its grand opening on April 27th after working from the space during the build-out process. They are excited to meet new customers and anyone looking for gift items at their shop. People can visit the storefront from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or call/text them at (815) 848-2216. For examples of their work, visit the company’s Instagram page, showroom, or the Hinterland Coffee & Clothing shop next door, which uses them for many of its apparel products.
