Hi merch minx,

We’re loving all the love DRIP DROP has gotten so far, but please sir, may I have some more?

Follow us on socials to see even more merch content coming veryyyy soon, we’ve got some big stuff in the works:

Inspired by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (the PonPonPon girl from 2011 who turned that into a legit career and legacy) posting about her afternoon tea-themed birthday this year, I was inspired to make my own birthday merch.

Where Kyary had customised teaspoons to commemorate the day, I had 5 glass cups I never used taking up space in my cupboard and a $3 glass paint kit sitting around…

My birthday was sports carnival themed and included a healthy dose of competition via a scavanger hunt and trivia combo, so the winners got a cup each to take home and remind them that I am their friend.

Another DIY I’ve done is put all the confetti I’ve collected from various gigs into a glass frame. It was inspired by a creator I saw who scanned their confetti to make a large scale poster, unfortunately I can’t remember who it was!

DIY merch for your and your friends is both fun, extremely limited edition, and did I mention fun? I’m reminded of the trend from last year of Chinese Gen Z making ‘laoshugan’ dolls of their friends, the current boom in crochet and knitting, and making photocards of yourself, your pets, and your friends.

Even Penguin got in on the photocards, using their penguin mascot!

For a more advanced DIY, take some inspo from Pattie Gonia who has revived the punk scene’s merch style with screenprinting on top of thrifted shirts. Pattie is also currently getting sued by Patagonia, so show her some love on socials.

Since DRIP DROP allows us the luxury of having our own little tastemaking corner of the internet, we can happily say without filter what we like and what we don’t like, and you can’t do anything about that.

Last week, I did a lengthy write up about a few brands that I like, and one in particular that needs to lift their merch game (still love that brand tho) 😊

But, this week is brief. Because when it comes to what I think is the best merch I’ve seen in my time orbiting around the tech/startup/whatever space - as the kids would reiterate - “Say Less.”

Jacky Winter is an illustration and animation agency representing world-class artists across Australia, the US, and the UK. A while ago, I was helping living legend Jeremy Wortsman (founder of JW) produce Creative Mornings Melbourne each month, and would always interact with Jacky Winter or their associated offerings on the regular, such as their Lamington Drive Gallery for parties and artist showcases etc.

JW have had some of the most incredible merch, for both their team and their clients, but by far, their pièce de résistance was the JW Challenge Coin, regularly re-released with a new collab with a new artist. New CC just dropped FYI.

LOOK. AT. THIS. ART.

Given as a sign of professional connection, appreciation and gratitude, the JW Challenge Coin (which also doubles as a bottle opener and decision-making coin) is reserved for JW clients who commissioned a big project or worked with them on a job that was special in some way. The team think it’s kind of a flex to have one, and you can’t get one. Unless you’re eligible that is - check it here: https://www.jackywinter.com/

(This one is a collab with artist Florian Schommer. Instagram HERE)

Such a fan of the challenge coin concept. Jacky Winter have perfected it by the way, they’ve been giving these out for years, always with unbelievable quality. But it is not an insurmountable concept to find a keepsake or thingamajig and brand your company with that, so people can keep it nearby, and smile when they remember you (while the tote bag others produce rots away somewhere in the garage.) A Rubik’s Cube perhaps? Sure!

Check out the DRIP DROP Sublime for more merch inspo