What is Ink & Empire?

Ink & Empire is where history and satire meet. The name nods to the two constants of civilization: the ink historians use to record our past, and the empires that dominate so many of those stories.

At its core, Ink & Empire is satirical history merch—made for people who know their guillotines from their gladiators and can’t resist turning a footnote into a punchline. Our pieces aren’t just shirts or mugs; they’re conversation starters. Every design is meant to spark a grin, an inside joke, or a passionate rant about someone’s favorite historical era.

This niche is for the true history nerds: the ones who see the humor in humanity’s chaos, get excited about the victories of Sumerian kings, and secretly wish their seminar notes could be printed on a t‑shirt. If history has a funny side—and it definitely does—this is where it lives.

Hi, I'm Mircea,

I’m the creator of Ink & Empire, and at heart, I’m a history nerd. I majored in history and political science, and while my day job is in the world of finance, I’ve always wanted a way to share my love of history in a more creative way.

Ink & Empire is my passion project—a space where I get to connect with other history buffs, laugh at the absurdity of the past, and turn satire into something wearable. For me, it’s the perfect mix of my two worlds: being a lifelong history buff and a self-taught designer. Bringing those passions together and seeing other people enjoy them feels like a dream come true.

My favorite historical period? Medieval Europe. It’s overflowing with material—plague doctors in their bird masks, peasant uprisings, rebellions that went nowhere, and, yes, the mice who helped kick off the Black Death. Probably not funny for the people living through it, but for us today, it’s a goldmine of dark comedy. That era is where I draw endless inspiration for my designs, and it’s one I never get tired of revisiting.

How do we make our T-Shirts?

All our apparent is printed on demand (POD), i.e. only when you order anything

🛍️ Fast fashion’s dirty little secret

Traditional retail churns out mountains of clothes that sit on racks, get discounted into oblivion, and then—surprise—end up in a landfill. Wasteful, boring, and bad for the planet.

🌱 We only make what you want

With POD, nothing exists until you order it. No ghost inventory, no overproduction. Just a shirt made for you, not for some warehouse clearance bin.

👕 Quality you can feel

We use Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, which sinks the ink right into the fabric. That means crisp detail, soft feel, and zero peeling vinyl. Basically, it’ll outlast your patience in traffic.

⚡ Flexible, not disposable

Whether you want one shirt or fifty, every single piece gets made to the same standard—no shortcuts, no “cheap bulk” compromises.

🌍 Closer to home, quicker to you

Thanks to a global network of print partners, your order usually comes from a facility near you. Less shipping distance = faster delivery and fewer carbon miles.

💡 Better model, better planet

Print-on-demand cuts waste, saves resources, and still gives you killer designs. You get fresh gear, the Earth gets a break. Everyone wins—except fast fashion, but they’ll survive.