Many of us will have forgotten the DIY collages and zines of the 90’s, believing them to have died out with the advent of the internet. However, Brooklyn’s annual Zine Fest proved us wrong last month with its celebration of the small-time printing scene, hosting 85 writers and artists showcasing and selling their hand-drawn creations.

Largely associated with grassroots movements from communities across the board – most notably in music and activism – zines were a popular way for people and small groups to connect with their wider communities, before there was a chance for everybody to host their own blog. The Brooklyn event hosted creators of zines ranging from completely self-made and printed, to those written and processed by third-party printers.

The overriding atmosphere was said to be one of hope – not just for their communities, but for print as a form of media. One creator, student Jamie Theophilos, reflected this attitude perfectly at a similar event in Massachusetts, stating: “There’s something about making and designing your own zine and holding it in your hands that you can’t get from something online.”