Fan-made video game merch is often better than the real thing

When I say “iconic video game fashion,” your mind may go to Tifa Lockhart’s breezy crop tank top and suspenders look, or the high-fashion mask and jacket style sported by Nier Automata’s 9S. Perhaps you are thinking of trendy school jackets and tees as worn by the characters in Persona Franchise, such as the trademark billiard-ball t-shirts for Animal Crossing and the overbranded hypebeast outfits of Splatoon. Maybe you even think about how you’ve kitted out your own Final Fantasy 14The following are some examples of how to use World of Warcraft character.

Designers and artists of video games carefully craft in-game fashions that are on-trend and fashionable. Some even include functional clothing. For gamers interested in drip that’s not as drab as the Phil Spencer blazer, T-shirt, and jeans look, it’s fascinating to track how real-world influences affect in-game cosmetics.

But as life influences art in these designs, shouldn’t art influence life? This is why it’s so disappointing that in many cases, even the most ready-to-wear designs from games aren’t available to buy as merch. The Yetee Shop, Insert Coin or Fangamer are some of the shops that work together with gaming brands to reproduce specific game looks. However, for the majority, these fashion options from the companies themselves are nothing more than elevated marketing materials. Fashion-conscious gamers want to show off their style in the same manner as they do when playing games.

If you want to wear your favorite looks from a video game, you’ll generally have to roll your sleeves up and make them yourself. I’ve been there. You’ve seen it. Splatoon 3,After the game was launched, I became so inspired by its designs that I created Splatoon pieces which I could wear daily. Nintendo wasn’t making them, so I took matters into my own hands with a Cricut Explore Air 2, some SVG files, and a dream in my heart.

Sam Greszes, Photo by

And I’m not the only one.

There are plenty of designers out there replicating and iterating on iconic video game looks, making them available to gamers when larger brands don’t.

Skip Barden’s Etsy store SkipDraws is full of Splatoon gear, from Toni Kensa rugs to re-creations of the holographic stickers you can use to decorate your in-game locker, and plushies — highlighted by an impeccable reproduction of Splatoon 3,’s Tentatek Tandem tee. When asked how they got their ideas, the designers expressed frustration that official replicas of game looks, even outside Japan, are hard to come by, particularly for Splatoon. This is a style that is based on wearable, functional, and modern design.

“It definitely is frustrating to see so many insanely cool and talented designs in-game with only a couple of them having been translated to real clothes! Splatoon’s core is built around the design and aesthetic. It’s really bad to see this throughout. Splatoon 1 and 2, The following are some examples of how to get started: 3There have been many [few] merch options that actually look like in-game items and clothing.”

The fact that Nintendo is actually able to play the game makes it even more obvious. It is a good idea to use Release Splatoon There are some pretty cool merch items that have been inspired by game content. Final Fest T-shirts are limited editions. Splatoon 2,Barden mentions specifically the Tri-Shred T-shirt sold exclusively in Nintendo stores Japan.

“I do honestly love Nintendo’s replication of this design,” they say, “but I want more designs, more options, and definitely don’t want to wait around for Nintendo to make my favorite ones when they probably won’t and I can do it myself! […]Tentatek Tandem Tee was my first choice as it looked so exciting. I started there to get a fun and interesting project.

Skip Barden, Photo by

“The way that I select the designs is hard to explain because I feel like it’s composed of many subconscious decisions, but mostly I choose the ones I find most visually appealing and interesting, as well as what I can envision myself and others actually wearing out and about. I want fans of Splatoon to feel like they’re actually a part of the universe, without that feeling leaving when they exit the game.”

Jacqueline Yanez is another designer who has been heavily inspired by gaming. Her Twitter accountShe uses her personal style to translate the in-game characters and character designs into fashionable patterns and illustrations. Her culture, as a Latina from first generation, is a major influence on this.

“Growing up I was exposed to a lot of art that one would consider ‘Mexican maximalism,’” Yanez says. “People tend to dismiss maximalist art for seeming like an incomprehensible, cluttered mess, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I mean, yes, the work is busy, but there is great care and thought put into the colors, the spacing of the elements, and the overall flow of the piece.”

While her designs aren’t one-to-one re-creations or adaptations of in-game fashions, she’s still guided by the philosophy of “if I can’t find it, might as well make it.” She mentions that she doesn’t fault Nintendo, Disney, The Pokémon Company, or others for not creating these products — after all, they’re all bound by pretty restrictive style guides — and as a designer herself, this creates an opportunity for her to create the designs she’d want to wear. This also lets her spotlight characters (she specifically mentions Pokémon’s Trubbish and Minior, both of which she’s spotlighted in patterns) that don’t get the spotlight much in official merchandise.

Jacqueline Yanez is the photographer.

It is not uncommon for there to be a gap between what IP owners produce as promotional material and the styles that people are interested in wearing. Games like Splatoon, Animal Crossing, Final Fantasy 14Hell, yes Fortnite The designers put a great deal of work into creating hundreds or thousands of pieces in the game that will allow players to express themselves unique, fashionable and trendy. It’s part of what attracts people to those games in the first place.

“Gamers have no drip” is a (deserved!) Twitter is awash with the refrain “Gamers have no drip” every summer when press conferences are held. But considering the stylish way they kit themselves out in their favorite games, maybe the problem isn’t with gamers themselves. Given the tools to be creative and fashionable, we rise to the occasion, but if all that’s marketed to us in terms of real-life wearables are T-shirts with cringey slogans on them, can we really be surprised when that’s what people wear?

The solution to this issue is for game companies to partner with designers and producers in order replicate the in-game graphics that ignite creativity and a passion for fashion. It would allow gamers to explore the fashion world with less of a barrier and discover their own personal style. Sega already did this with great success, working together with Insert Coin on recreating designs from its games. From the Ono Mikio long sleeve top from Yakuza 6 to Ryuji’s hoodie from Persona 5. These designs are in high demand and sell quickly. Not only do we want to look good, but also express ourselves through our clothes in the same way as our favourite games. And until more video game companies learn that, well, there’s always Etsy. You can also use your sewing machine. Or even your Cricut.