Are you looking for cute, fun, and geeky merchandise to represent your favorite fandom? Maybe after years of being told that you’re too old to wear fandom or cosplay clothing, you’ve decided to just do what you love. But, where to look? Amazon only has so much, and it can honestly be superficial in its fandom offerings. And before some of you say that this is basic knowledge, remember that there are so many people just starting out expressing their obsession with fandoms. Here are seven of the best places to find all the fandom merch your little geek heart desires.
Her Universe
Who better to turn to for fandom merch than a fellow fan-slash-actor in said fandom? Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Forces of Destiny, and Rebels, got tired of the whole of Star Wars fashion being men’s t-shirts. So, she founded a company of fandom fashion for women and girls. Her Universe has grown to offer men, women, children, and even pets their own fashionable clothing and accessories. And, it includes multiple fandoms now, with the most recent additions being a Lord of the Rings collection and a Star Trek collection.
Her Universe has gorgeously designed fandom dresses and other cosplay-esque products that you can dress as your favorite characters every day. And, a lot of the fan clothing and merchandise you see at Hot Topic or Shop Disney is actually a Her Universe original. Skip the middle-man and go straight to Her Universe where they often have better sales and discounts than the other sites.
BoxLunch
While some might accuse us of cheating with this one, we’re going to include BoxLunch because of their exclusives in fandom merch. Hot Topic Inc. actually owns both Her Universe and BoxLunch so it could be considered all one source. But, BoxLunch advertises itself specifically as a fandom and pop culture store. And while Her Universe has a lot of mainstream fandoms to choose from, BoxLunch will offer products that can be from smaller, cult-classic fandoms.
If you want Disney products but are tired of their main franchises, BoxLunch can fix that. They have products from more nostalgic Disney movies like The Great Mouse Detective and Oliver and Company. Studio Ghibli fans can get merchandise from their favorite films because who doesn’t want a Calcifer oven mitt and kitchen set? Anime fans can receive licensed products in a much shorter time than if it was being shipped overseas. And the BoxLunch exclusive merch really is worth looking for fandom stuff outside of Hot Topic.
Cakeworthy
If you’ve ever seen a cute flannel shirt that had a quote from a fictional character on the back, chances are it’s a Cakeworthy shirt. Their flannels are one of the most popular products. They often sell on Shop Disney and other mainstream places, but it is so much better to go straight to their website. If you want unique, niche items, Cakeworthy is a good place to check out. They collaborate with a variety of fandoms to make great quality products, and they even geek out in their product descriptions.
Cakeworthy collaborations are only for a limited time so it is to your benefit to subscribe to their newsletter to stay informed about which fandoms they will represent next. Their newest collection is Lizzie McGuire, for all the fans of the Disney Channel show. They may not sell cake, but they do sell nostalgia with featured characters such as The Powerpuff Girls, Strawberry Shortcake, and Furby.
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Loungefly
Cute mini-backpacks and crossbody bags are Loungefly‘s bread and butter. But, they also have other accessories and apparel. While their products are heavily based in Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel, you can also find unique offerings like horror movie characters, nostalgic toys, and fast food franchises. And, you might be able to find Loungefly bags in other places at a discount, but you miss out on their exclusives and their clothing. The Stitch Shoppe and the Collectiv lines offer great quality wearable fandom merch.
Fun.com
What began as a website to find Halloween costumes, Fun.com built itself up to be a fan’s dream. This website has the most comprehensive offering of fandom merch with products from movies, TV shows, video games, toys, anime, and sports. Plus, they still have a wide selection of costumes and accessories for Halloween or cosplay. Their prices are pretty decent compared to other fandom shops, and their categories section feels as thick as an old-school encyclopedia or a Cheesecake Factory menu. Seriously, fans of any type of media will be able to find something just for them on Fun.com.
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RedBubble
If you want to support fan art while also getting some amazing merch, RedBubble is a great website. Search for your favorite fandom and find hundreds or thousands of designs you can put on clothing, accessories, and home decor. RedBubble is great for fans who shy away from mainstream fandom merch, giving a larger chance of having a truly unique piece. When you choose a design from an individual artist, you are also helping them earn an income from their art. Fans helping fans makes the world a brighter place.
Fan-Owned Etsy Shops
Another place to support fellow fans and creators is Etsy. Yes, Etsy has become a frustrating place for actual small businesses, but that makes it all the more important for us to show up and buy the exquisite creations made by fans. If you can’t find any merch for your fandom, or the selection is paltry, then fan-owned Etsy shops will fix that. Someone out there has thought the same thing about not having the products they would wear or use, so they created them and started selling on Etsy. Even fandom merch shops that have moved to their own website usually began on Etsy. And, a lot of the time you end up making friends with the shop owners because you share a love of that fandom.
So, if you are not finding the fandom merch you really want, try moving away from Amazon and checking out these seven places. The amount of geeky merch out there is truly amazing, you just have to know where to look. Do you have other places you go for your fandom merch? Tell us in the comments.
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