Our Origin Story

We’re Karina and Edgar—two Colombian dreamers who have proudly called Canada home for 18 years. Together, we built Graphresh Studio from nothing but determination, creativity, and a vision to create something of our own.

Printing runs in Edgar’s blood. Back home, his father owned a print shop, and by the age of 16, Edgar was already helping him run it. That early start turned into a lifelong passion for design. He became a graphic designer, built years of industry experience when we move to Canada, and eventually brought that expertise into what would become our family business.

In 2018, we decided it was our time. With courage, faith, and a small loan, we bought our first printer, laminator, and cutter. That moment was the first breath of Graphresh Studio. Our garage became the workshop, the basement turned into storage, the dining room into a photo studio, and the living room held finished orders. Our home transformed into a full-blown mini warehouse built on hustle and heart.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy. When projects wouldn’t fit through the garage door, we built them in the backyard. When it was time to wrap vehicles, members of our Latino community stepped in lending their garages, warehouses, and always their encouragement. Their support wasn’t just space it was a reminder of where we came from and why we started. For that, we will always be grateful.

But the early years were tough. There were months with no sales and debt that felt overwhelming. Some nights, we thought about giving up. We even printed random designs just to keep the inks from drying out. That necessity sparked an idea: what if people could experience our work before buying? So we started giving away “For Sale” signs to realtors, menus to restaurants, and decals to shops. Many turned them down even for free n but those who tried them came back with real orders and spread the word. Word of mouth became our lifeline.

Today, people sometimes call us “lucky.” But the truth is, luck had nothing to do with it. It was early mornings, long nights, missed weekends, and countless sacrifices. It was raising our children while learning new skills, surviving slow seasons, pushing through a pandemic, and saying “yes” to starting over every single morning.

What kept us going? Three simple words: Strategy Dedication & Persistence

So, if you’ve ever paused at one of our signs, wraps, murals, etc.: know this: behind every layer of ink is a family’s heart.

Thank you for spreading our name, for every recommendation, for trusting us with your ideas, and for believing in what we’re building.

Your support isn’t just appreciated it’s the reason we’re here.