From our Garage to Main Street
Intrigue Ink popped into existence in 2011 when whiz sisters Tatum and Paige Johnson decided to join forces and use their superpowers for good: Tatum, a dynamite photographer, and Paige, an all-star architect, always knew they had the knack to do something special. The idea was this: join the Handmade Movement that was sweeping across the internet; make something as fascinating and eye-catching as the laws of physics will allow; and find a product that the two of them could do so well that it would make the birds sing. That undeniable force of good would be hand-drawn, sister-created, screen-printed apparel. Hallelujah.
Their brainchild kicked and screamed and moonwalked its way to where all funky-fresh enterprises begin: Paige’s garage. Armed with a printing press, their killer skillset, and a peer-reviewed scientific journal called YouTube, they quickly began to master the art of screen printing. Then came the hustle. Setting up shop at local flea markets, Tatum and Paige were soon overwhelmed with customers eager to get their mittens on Intrigue Ink’s supremely marvelous goods.
But they were just getting started. After braving that winter in their garage-turned-studio, they moved their growing business to a storefront on Tracy Avenue, sharing the space with other local artists — together, they formed a world-beating collective known as The Foundry. This was now Intrigue Ink’s opportunity to deepen their relationship with downtown Bozeman — and it was ti me to up their apparel game. Combining their undying love for Montana and their unending wit and pizzazz, they rolled up their sleeves and created many of the best-selling designs that fi ll the store today. And when the ink fumes cleared, Tatum emerged as Intrigue Ink’s CEO and photographer, and Paige the head graphic designer and wholesale manager.
In 2016, Intrigue Ink was ready for lift off. Flipping on their main thrusters, Tatum and Paige boldly launched their business into the big blue sky, flew two laps around the moon, and landed on Main Street, where they moved into their very own space — and where they’ve been ever since. What started as a gutsy gamble between two sisters has grown into a whole team of apparel babes ready to take over Bozeman, then the American West, and soon the world. And the designs? Still funky as a badger in bellbottoms, still fresh as the first day of spring. And here’s the real kicker, ladies and gents: they are still just getting started.
