The Menace behind the name
Menace Mori is a creative studio in Hamilton, Ontario. We screen print, design, and build for brands, businesses, artists, and organizations that care about what their name is on. Autistic, Queer, immigrant, and woman owned. Water-based ink, made by real humans. A portion of every project donated to community organizations. No AI. No exceptions.
Memphis Mori started House of GRIM in 2014 - a tattoo, piercing, and tattoo removal studio at 196 Parkdale Ave N in Hamilton.
A decade later, the same building grew a second business out of the scary old unused back room. That business is Menace Mori.
The name is a play on memento mori - the Latin phrase that means "remember you will die." (It is also named after Memphis' deaf Pomeranian - "Ebenezer Bernard Menace Mori" .)
But, in a world where everything is AI, and everything is about the speed and the price and it feels like we've lost something along the way, we want to slow shit down, make it with our hands and maybe, just maybe, that will matter.
Why We Exist
The reason we exist is really simple, Memphis wanted to print her clothing brand in Canada and wanted to work with a printer that represented what she cares about - and she didn't find an option that was eco-friendly or queer owned, or BIPOC or immigrant or .... (I think you see the point) and so logically, she decided to make the business she wanted.
And so, here we are.
Water-Based Ink Only
Our ink absorbs into the fabric instead of sitting on top like plastic. Softer feel, longer lasting, no microplastics in the wash. Better for you and more importantly (sorry, not sorry) better for the planet.
No AI. Ever.
Every design, every layout, every piece of artwork is made by a real people. So, that means unhinged and imperfect, but created with love and creativity.
Hand-Printed
We really mean we manually press each shirt, so yeah we're a bit slower than an automatic press, but we have loved the craft of creating and we inspect every single piece, we spend the extra time, and we like to think that matters.
You Own Everything
You pay for your stuff, so that means whatever we create for you is yours, we don't hold your content hostage, we don't control anything, we just work with you to create websites or designs, or content or stickers that you're excited about. (No ransom demands later, we promise)
One Studio. Everything Under One Roof.
We're really a small studio in a garage space in the back of a tattoo shop, that took over some of the basement now too. We know you, cause we actually talk to you.
We Give Back
20% of every Cuntry Club sale is donated. The Reth-Ink Foundation provides free laser tattoo removal. 5% of all Menace Mori orders is donated to a local Hamilton based organization, like the Queer Justice Project.
The Human
Memphis is a delusional, over worked, definitely stressed bimbo who believes that hot girls can change the world.
She's the mom of two queer kids, she has 2 cats and 2 dogs, that likely are at the print shop with her every day (yes, you can pet them).
She's an autistic, mentally ill, immigrant from South Africa, a queer lesbian, a tattoo shop owner, a published writer, ex tattoo artist and ex model turned content creator who talks about politics, human rights, cute outfits, running too many businesses just being alive, in a late stage capitalism hellscape...
When she isn't working (allegedly) - she enjoys vacations (with her laptop), video games, reading non fiction books, sleeping and eating good food with people she likes.