DIY stans
Some of the Best Merch Of Your Favorite Artists Isn’t At Their Concert Booth — It’s Fan-Made
With rising ticket prices, it's not as accessible to pick up tour gear at the merch stand anymore. Sites like Etsy have been filling that void, and here are some of our top picks
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December 16, 2024
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There’s no bigger leap from “casual song enjoyer” to “this artist is literally part of my life” than scoring your first piece of their merch. Rocking a performer’s tee or hoodie not only shows the world who you are, but what you care about. Sure, some band’s logos and iconography have become so entrenched in modern streetwear style that you can wear them with zero allegiance to the music and no one would bat an eye except for corny, “oh really? Name five of their songs”-type folks (with Nirvana merch seeming to take the brunt of the potshots).
But donning an artist’s merch out in the wild also makes for an easy way to identify and connect with fellow fans, turning would-be strangers into a collective force of nature (see: the Swiftie friendship bracelet trading phenomenon, or literally everything about BTS Armys). On the performer’s side, it’s no longer good enough to just slap your band’s logo on a tee — now we’re seeing quirkier options ranging from Reneé Rapp’s “Young Ex Wife” tank tops, to skeleton-print sweatpants from Phoebe Bridgers, and The 1975 using a hugging Wojack meme on their tee.
But with ticket prices on the rise (including hidden fees, fighting with bots, waiting on a virtual queue for hours), attending some of the biggest tours in the country and actually acquiring that merch in person can seem like a Herculean task at times nowadays. That’s why more and more stans are relying on fan-made merch from sites like Etsy to fulfill that band tee-sized hole in their hearts. With tours that seem to have dedicated “uniforms” these days, it helps too that the pieces are often more unique and sometimes dare we say, better, than the official merchandise.
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That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best fan-made merch we’ve spotted for artists who are taking the globe by storm, from Beyoncé to Bad Bunny, because everyone deserves to rep their faves.
for the swifties
Greetings from Florida!!! Tee
Buy Now on five fences co. $30
After falling victim to copycat design stealers, graphic designer Holly decided to create her own online shop, Five Fences Co., reviving one of our favorite fan-made Swiftie tees of all time. This celebration of Taylor Swift and Florence And The Machine’s collab — which features tropical swamp iconography from the track “Florida!!!” — channels a vintage postcard aesthetic in the best way possible. While we love our lavender-hued everything and kitties for “karma is a cat”, we like that this shirt takes a different direction from most Taylor merch. You can choose from S-4XL sizing to ensure that perfect oversized fit for the summer (or year-round Florida-style humidity).
for the beyhive
Cowboy Carter Belt Buckle
$30 $50 40% off
Whether you’re stepping out at the beach, the cookout, or on the dance floor, you’ll be channeling Cowboy Carter style with this handmade Beyoncé belt buckle. While this seems like it would’ve been a no brainer for her own merch rollout (maybe for the eventual tour announcement?), but this lovingly-crafted homage to Bey’s country era almost feels too pretty to wear. But you’ll come take it to the floor now, anyways.
for the angels
Charli XCX Cult Classic Boiler Room T-Shirt
$18.12+
Yes, we’ve been wading through a sea of “brat” lime green and Y2K chrome clothing since the summer, but you deserve to switch it up a bit. This re-creation of the T-shirt that Charli wore for her iconic Boiler Room set back in March may be simple, but it makes for a fantastic bit of IYKYK merch.
for the carpenters
“Short n’ Sweet” Album Earrings
$9.99
These earrings leave quite an impression…1.18 inches, to be exact. Inspired by the baby blue look of the album’s vinyl, these sweetheart Short ‘n Sweet-inspired earrings are a great accouterment to any concert fit for her tour. Or you can simply wear them out on a date for a look that says you won’t settle for “slim pickins”.
for the livies
Engraved Guts Tour Stanley Cup
$50
If you missed out on the drop of the official Olivia Rodrigo Stanley Cup, you’re not alone — now you can still spill your guts (but not your drink) with this laser-engraved Stanley tumbler commemorating the Guts tour. Featuring songs and icons of Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album/tour engraved throughout, this 40 ounce flip straw tumbler will keep your bevvies colder than your ex’s heart for hours on end.
for the avocados
Blohsh Inspired Chain Necklace
$23.78
Referred to as the “Blohsh” (we’re still not sure what that means), this sparkling chain necklace lets you keep Billie’s iconic mascot close to your chest. The genderless slanted stick figure pendant is made from cubic zirconia and is attached to a 37cm chain. Wear this out and about and you’ll feel happier than ever.
for the midwestern princesses
Chappel Roan Deluxe Skincare Gift Set
$48
Ready to look (and feel) like a FEMINOMENON? Well, you don’t need a wand and a rabbit to make that magic happen, cause you can freshen yourself up with this Chappell Roan-themed skincare set. We love the playful feel of the homemade items, from the “I heard you like Magic” Color Changing Hot Pink Lip Stain, to “Sugar High” Vanilla Hand Salve. As a bonus, every gift box comes with a 4 x 6 sheet of five stunning custom stickers designed by Knoxville, TN artist Annie Fox.
BTS “Life Goes On” Spinning Anxiety/Fidget Ring
$17.83
When the pandemic first started, the theme “life goes on” was mentioned several times while BTS shared the process behind their album of the same name through a series of vlogs. No matter what times you’re going through, this smooth-spinning ring will hopefully bring you a bit of peace. The stainless steel ring has been engraved with BTS’ logo and the phrase “life goes on” to serve as a daily reminder.
para los conejos
Nadie Sabe Embroidered Tank
$35
While nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, you could be awaiting a package with this seller’s minimalist embroidered Bad Bunny tank. Don’t get us wrong, we love that sad little heart from Un Verano Sin Ti, but we think this bucking bronco stands out just as well. Made from a soft and stretchy fabric, this pullover features slim fit that hits just above the waist to complete your caballero summer look.
for the kenfolk
MUSTARD! Kendrick Lamar Inspired Coffee Mug
$18.51+ $23.14+ 20% off
About two minutes into “tv off,” the seventh track on his latest album GNX, Kendrick Lamar shouts — well, what else? — “MUSTAAAAAAAAARD!”. The internet has since turned this producer name-drop into a meme, and to celebrate that scream heard ’round the world, take a sip from this Charlie Brown-inspired “Mustard!” mug whenever you’re feeling like you want to blow off some stream.
for the bootleggers
Luke Combs Stickers
$8.40
This one’s for you, Combs fans — while this site already has a wealth of fan-made stickers, we like that this mixed pack from StickToTheGood shop includes pics of the man himself and not just popular album lyrics (although “beer never broke my heart” is a must). Glossy and water-resistant stick these on your laptop, concert venue-friendly bag, or hell, even on a beer bottle.
for the young ex wives
Reneé Rapp Tummy Hurts Keychain
$12.75
Doctor recommended for any heartbreak, this “Tummy Hurts” acrylic keychain is perfect for organizing your car and house keys, wearing on your backpack, or hanging anywhere you want to sport your love for Rapp. The fun Pepto-Bismol design won’t guarantee you’ll get over your ex, but you will look stylish.
for tyler fans
CHROMAKOPIA Candle
$15
One of the GOATs of artist merch has to be Tyler, the Creator, with his fashion and lifestyle brand Golf Wang having gained an almost cultlike following. But like we said before, some of his most unique merch you’ll arguably find made by fans, like this green apple-scened title candle based on the 2024 album Chromakopia.
for the Lanatics
Lana Del Rey Cotton Tote Bag
$16.95 $22.59 25% off
Buy now on etsy
Revel in nostalgia of the Tumblr-esque 2012 Born To Die era with this cotton tote that portrays the singer (also known as the Queen of Hearts) as a playing card. With a vintage, regal look, wear it around to remind everyone you meet not to mess with your heart (or just your bag full of groceries).
for the Arianators
The Original “We Can’t Be Friends” Peach Necklace
$55
Now this is a rare find — while not exactly a piece of artist merch, Ariana Grande herself bought this delicate necklace from shop aptoArt and featured it in her music video for “we can’t be friends” (the seller even shows a pic of the flowers and a personalized thank you note Ari sent them). We love finds like this that show off a lowkey love for something special and referential to the artist — the necklace itself is also just stunning, with a vibrant glass peach pendant hung by a shiny, gold-plated chain.
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