Merch is being utilized heavily more and more to commemorate special occasions these days. Take the San Antonio Spurs 50th anniversary merch drop, for example. Last weekend, the team launched a special collection of T-shirts, hats, wallets, and other goods together with Bexar Goods to celebrate the milestone.

In an article shared by KSAT.com, the collection includes classic and 1996 NBA All-Star weekend T-shirts, caps, and more that became available to fans at AT&T Center just before the Spurs faced off against the Memphis Grizzlies. The special-edition gear is also currently on sale at Outland Provision and BexarGoods.com. The line pays homage to the Spurs Fiesta City Edition uniforms and includes turquoise, fuchsia, and orange accents.

This isn’t the first time Bexar Goods has collaborated with the Spurs team. Other collections were released in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons.

“This collaboration continues bringing unique merchandise to our fans, and each new iteration gives us a chance to deepen our roots with local creators who we admire,” Jordan Mandelkorn, senior director of marketing and creative services for the Spurs, said in the press release. “With this fourth line, we’re highlighting a successful years-long collaboration between two iconic San Antonio brands and paying homage to our team’s 50 years in the community.”

What it Means for Decorators

Whether you want to thank the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting supply chain and inventory issues, a massive shift in the buying habits of Millenials looking for unique merch, the growing concern over sustainability and textile waste, or all the above, special-edition merch drops like these have largely taken over the retail world of apparel.

And as is typical in the decorated apparel industry, retail trends find their way into the industry in more ways than one. This is especially true in the world of fanwear, transcending the sports world and touching fans of TV shows, social media influencers, and more. Customers aren’t looking for one of hundreds of T-shirts printed with the same design anymore. They want a unique, custom, one-of-a-kind experience, something that they’ll wear until it falls apart.

Don’t be the decorator who misses the boat on this growing trend. Make sure you design shirts that sell.