The Rise of Odd Future Merch
When it comes to Odd Future, most people probably know of the Los Angeles based hip-hop collective led by rapper and Twitter loudmouth Tyler, The Creator. They've also probably heard of their other members: the gangly, arty Frank Ocean and his laidback, skateboarding cohorts Earl Sweatshirt and Hodgy Beats. Together they're the brains behind a creative collective that's rife with charismatic controversy and a reputation for bucking the system with their independent music, videos and clothing lines.

But even for the most devoted fans, it can be difficult to keep up with all of their projects. As the collective has grown, so has their output, with a multitude of mixtapes, EPs, and full-length albums released over the years. And of course, there's their eponymous apparel line, which has seen a rise in popularity in recent years.

With a variety of designs that span from subtle to outright weird, there's a little something for everyone when it comes to Odd Future Merch. We recently had the chance to chat with Chris Culbertson, the LA design director at Odd Future's longtime designer collective, OFWGKTA. He's responsible for designing the group's apparel, maintaining their website and online store, as well as creating event graphics for shows and pop-up shops. He's also helped to create merchandise for their collaborative projects, like the OFWGKTA Snow Lodge and the upcoming supper club, The ICE.

During our conversation, we talked about how the brand started and where it is today. The collective was formed in 2007 by Tyler, the Creator, who enlisted his gifted entourage of friends and musicians. It soon gained attention on the internet, mainly thanks to its self-produced and highly viral music videos.

By 2012, things were really starting to take off. Tyler's "Yonkers" video went viral and got him the attention of some of Hip-Hop's biggest names, with Kanye West and Pusha T both cosigning him shortly after. The year also saw the release of the critically acclaimed debut album from Frank Ocean, Channel Orange. This, combined with a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live and a Supreme collaboration, ensured the collective's name was on everyone's lips.

While the Supreme and Odd Future relationship shouldn't be completely credited to the collective, it can't be denied that they played a big role in the cult brand's massive growth since 2010. As angsty, young outsiders, they were the embodiment of what Supreme stood for at the time, embracing the idea of being counterculture with their own style and image.

Fast-forward to the present, and while the collective isn't currently active, they still have a strong presence in culture. In fact, Jasper Dolphin—one of the collective's many side-projects—even had us create a T-shirt for his band Free Willy parody, called 666 Dolphins. The shirt is now available in our shop—click the link to get your hands on it.
https://www.oddfuturemerch.store/