A New Sunrise: The Story Behind Our Return to Local Screen Printing
In 1999, when Dave Hopley first moved to St. John’s, he brought with him a vision — and a whole lot of ink. He opened Living Planet T-Shirts, a full-service silk screen print shop, and quickly became known for collaborating with local artists to bring bold, creative T-shirt designs to life. Before long, “T-Shirt Dave” became a downtown icon, famous for exceptional print quality and for tackling the jobs other printers wouldn’t even attempt.
In 2005, Dave teamed up with Kim Winsor to open Johnny Ruth & Living Planet, the gift and clothing boutique you all know and love in the heart of downtown St. John’s. When Dave — who also co-owns Rocket Bakery & Fresh Foods — sold the print shop in 2015, Johnny Ruth continued offering artist-designed apparel, outsourcing the printing to trusted partners.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the story comes full circle. As part of a strategic move to regain full control over print quality, costs, and turnaround times, Dave and Kim repurchased the original Living Planet print shop assets. And with that, a new chapter began: Sunrise Screen Printing, now operating at 20 Barnes Road in St. John’s.
Sunrise Screen Printing doesn’t just produce all JR Casuals apparel for Johnny Ruth — they also offer custom printing for customers and businesses across the province. To ensure the craftsmanship remains unmatched, they welcomed master printer Jon Keefe, known for his work with Pink Eye Prints and Pinpoint Ink. Together, Dave and Jon bring over 40 years of combined experience in the silk screen printing industry.
Because they never gave up rights to the original Living Planet designs, Sunrise now proudly carries a catalogue of more than 100 in-house designs, maintains licensing agreements with local artists, and is rebuilding strong relationships with customers looking for top-quality custom apparel. The brand that helped shape the local art scene is not just back — it’s evolving.
Whether you’re dreaming up a small personal project or outfitting a large operation, Sunrise Screen Printing can bring your ideas to life with superior quality and care. They offer in-house design services, product sourcing, and full-service screen printing.
If you’d like a quote or want to chat about a project, reach out anytime at info@sunrisescreenprinting.ca.