JellyFishQ + A

What does Mushpa + Mensa mean?

Mushpa + Mensa are names of endearment in Quechua (Mushpa) and Spanish (Mensa), that very roughly translated mean goof and goofier! :]
 

How did Mushpa + Mensa start?

It happened in the summer of 2012. We drew a plan in a sketchbook and turned it into a reality. We started out in NYC doing fairs and fleas, then bought a box truck and completed a successful Kickstarter campaign to design and build from scratch, Maya, our mobile retail shop. It has been an amazing process. Everyday it is a chance for us to evolve, and we do.
 

What is Mushpa + Mensa’s philosophy?

We strive to face inconvenient truths in our daily lives. This is our chance to change ourselves. To support local, small and conscious fellow earthlings, and show other humans that a little extra work is worth more than a fafillion words. We want to create art that will support the basic necessities in our lives and that will impact the lives of others in a positive way.
 

Do you design and print your 100% organic cotton, super fly tees?

Yes, from the beginning to the end! We draw the designs, scan and print them on transparencies, light box them onto silkscreens and print each one by hand, making each a one of a kind. We also do zig-zag stitching on the necks, arms and hem, unless requested otherwise.

Where can we find Maya, the magical mobile machine?

If you are wondering where you can find Mushpa + Mensa check out our Events page or @mushpamensa on Twitter and Instagram!

Do you carry other designers?

At this time we do not. We design and create all of our shirts, jewelry, pillows, plush pets,  tablet cases, kids’ gear,  bow ties and whatever else we may come up with. Come check out our truck to find all sort of fantabulous stuff!

Is your shop cash only?

No. We take all major credit cards as well!

How do you bring power to your shop?

Solar power. We are the only mobile retail store out there running on the sun. We figured we sell organic cotton t-shirts and tank tops with water based ink, plush pets using felt made from recycled plastic bottles, and other functional eco art, let’s keep this theme going with our truck.

Who built and designed your mobile retail truck?

Mushpa + Mensa did! We installed the solar panel and did electrical wiring, as well as building the inside structure, the interior painting and the fabulous decorating. We actually built the whole truck, and the design and research was our own with the exception of a few things.  We reached out to Marco of Brooklyn Zambrand Auto, for the outside paint job.  The design we drew for the outside of the truck was printed and installed by Sidney of Kreyol Graphics NYC,  and the marmoluem flooring (made from “renewable materials solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate.”) installation was done by Pete and Dan of Harbour Flooring in Wilmington, NC.

Where do you get your materials from?
We work extra hard to walk the walk. We research our materials and their sources. We either make the supplies ourselves when we can. If not we shop locally. When we cannot find it locally, we reach out to wholesale suppliers such as Alternative Apparel, whose products are made from 100% certified organic cotton using natural dyes. Lastly, we make sure the factories where our wares are produced hold themselves up to certain humanitarian standards.
 

Do you take fabric donations?

If you have containers full of fabric shoved away in your attic, buttons, craft supplies collecting dust in the back of your closet contact us and we’ll take it off your hands. We’ll use it to make amazing functional fashion, pillows, plush pets or whatever else our talent and imagination come up with. If you’re in our area we’ll pick it up, or you can drop it off wherever we are parked with Maya, our magical mobile art machine or feel free to mail it to us! :] Recycle, refurbish, re-use!

If you have any other questions, do no hesitate to ask!

Contact us.