In today’s fast-paced, technology-dependent world, taking the time to put down our phones, slow down, and bond with loved ones through creative activities sounds like a luxury.

But that’s exactly the kind of luxury that CreativiTEE in Downtown Salem, OR, offers.

Founded by Roanna Gingrich, CreativiTEE is a store where you can design your own T-shirts using professional materials. But it’s more than just a T-shirt store.

It’s where stories are shared, bonds are forged, and imagination takes center stage.

Step inside, and you’ll quickly see that CreativiTEE is a safe and inspiring space for building community.

Telling Stories through T-Shirts

The process of designing your own T-shirts at CreativiTEE is simple, fun, and unique.

First, you pick out your canvas – a T-shirt in your favorite color or style.

Then comes the exciting part: designing. With a wide array of materials at your fingertips, you can let your imagination run wild. Whether a bold statement, a delicate pattern, or a fun doodle, your design is your T-shirt’s centerpiece.

Once your design is ready, the friendly CreativiTEE staff brings it to life using professional screen printing.

Finally, you’ll don your custom creation, strike a pose, and capture the moment as a memory in ink and fabric.

Where Creativity Meets Community

CreativiTEE founder Roanna Gingrich has envisioned her store as a space that inspires connection.

Roanna’s dedication to community shines through in every aspect of her work. She’s a proud Latina with roots that span from Portland to Peru. Sharing her heritage is essential to her mission, reminding us of the importance of getting to know each other beyond surface impressions.

Above all, Roanna has made CreativiTEE a safe space for the community. Everyone is welcome here, no matter who they are, whether they’ve come to buy or design a shirt, attend an event, or simply stop by for a chat. 

She especially loves seeing families gathering at her store to create and bond together in ways that can’t be replicated with mobile devices or computer screens. In a world where technology often pulls us apart, CreativiTEE strives to bring us back together.

CreativiTEE is also becoming a hub for Downtown Salem’s artistic and entrepreneurial spirit. Roanna hosts an array of events that spark inspiration and foster community building. From yoga sessions followed by tank top designing to art classes and informal forums, there’s always happening at the store.

One standout event that Roanna hosts is Launch Mid Valley’s Women/BIPOC Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs, where diverse entrepreneurial voices come together to share ideas, build networks, and uplift one another.

Empowering Women One Design at a Time 

Aside from building community, Roanna has also made it her mission to empower women through her space and designs.

Through events like CreativiTEE’s First Friday Art Walk, she provides a platform for women artists to showcase their work.

Through events like the aforementioned Women/BIPOC Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs, she gives women and BIPOC women business owners a place to connect with peers and share ideas and resources.

One such event inspired her to create a special line of T-shirts with uplifting messages, celebrating the strength and wisdom of women. These designs include feminine nouns in Spanish, such as “la femenina” or the feminine, “la diosa” or the goddess, and “la sabia” or the wise woman. Roanna comes up with a new design each month to add to her inspiring collection.

The Value of Presence

Despite the technological advances allowing us to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world in real time, technology has made interpersonal connections a bit of a challenge.

But Roanna hopes CreativiTEE can be a place where people slow down and truly connect. Whether it’s families creating T-shirts together, friends attending a yoga session, or entrepreneurs brainstorming over coffee, the store is a reminder of the value of presence.

For Roanna, it’s all about hanging out and creating together. And she’s right – there’s magic in the simple act of making something with your own hands with people who matter to you.

Ready to experience the inspiring community of CreativiTEE for yourself? Stop by the studio in Downtown Salem.

And if you’re a small business owner in Salem, check out the next schedule for the Women/BIPOC Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs. Join us for coffee and conversation, and walk away with the spark for your next big idea.