Photo Story: Artist T-Shirt Lookbook

Fans share their stories on their favorite artist t-shirt and the memories it brings them.

Photos by Gabriela Ruiz

Artist merch — we all may bemoan the high prices, but for our faves, we’ll make the sacrifice. For some, there’s no better way to outwardly rep love for an artist than by proudly wearing their merch. So, we asked three people to show off their favorite artist t-shirt and share what it means to them.

“Hozier is one of my favorite artists because his music is comforting. All of his songs carry such strong emotions, and tend to leave you feeling invited and familiar, like someone or something you’ve known forever. My favorite Hozier song is “Like Real People Do,” because I interpret its meaning as “love is a natural process.” It doesn’t have to be glamorous ot highly romanticized. It can just happen. And it can be kind and relaxed, no extremes necessary.” — Esai Cordova

“Harry [Styles] is my favorite artist because he believes in kindness, and being kind is one of the most powerful things someone can be. When I’m at his shows, listening to his music, or wearing his merch I feel safe and free to be who I am. My favorite song of his always changes, but usually it’s “Sweet Creature” because it makes me think of love. It’s so simple, sweet, and honest. Listening to it always puts me in a dreamy mood.” — Maylee Castillo

“Metallica is one of my favorite bands because I listened to them growing up. I love their unique sounds, awesome melodies, and meaningful lyrics. They’re definitely iconic and one of the greatest heavy metal bands. My favorite song of theirs is “Enter Sandman” because it has a really recognizable intro and the vocals are pretty cool. I especially enjoy the middle of the song when the singing stops. I think it really adds a creepy feel to the song, which makes it even better.” — Tyler Zapata