Thanks, Aaron.

You've been a massive inspiration to me and made me long to create my own Merch line since reading your 'Pretty Much Everything' book. I really love your attention to detail and how the quirky irreverent touches help bring character to the design.

This past year, I've gradually built a shop to my site and its been a buzz selling my own stuff.

My studio is called LOOM and it's uniquely located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The merchandise designs take traditional notions of Gaelic/Celtic culture and bring them into a fresh contemporary context... or put more simply, 'making cool sh*t!'.

The Lewis Chessmen are iconic pieces associated with the Islands. I've put the King and Queen pieces into some thick line merch designs and made some tees, tea towels and notebooks.

LOOM Merch - image 1 - student project LOOM Merch - image 2 - student project LOOM Merch - image 3 - student project LOOM Merch - image 4 - student project LOOM Merch - image 5 - student project LOOM Merch - image 6 - student project LOOM Merch - image 7 - student project LOOM Merch - image 8 - student project LOOM Merch - image 9 - student project LOOM Merch - image 10 - student project

I also made a crest design for my buddy's recording studio on the Isles. It is based at a converted crab factory. He loved my design and we both agreed it was too good not to put on a T-Shirt. Some silver ink on black magic happened.

LOOM Merch - image 11 - student project LOOM Merch - image 12 - student project LOOM Merch - image 13 - student project

There was also a Gaelic phrase that I learned on arrival here that has stuck with me:

"An nì a thig leis a’ ghaoith, falbhaidh e leis an uisge."

"What Comes with the wind will go with the rain"

... It sums up the philosophy of life up here. So I came up a bilingual typographic treatment for that.

LOOM Merch - image 14 - student project LOOM Merch - image 15 - student project LOOM Merch - image 16 - student project

Sales have been slow and steady. But its been way more exciting than a lot of client work and the fact people are actually buying it is a huge joy.

Please visit the shop or follow the studio on Instagram or Facebook.

Thanks again, Aaron. Total legend!

Pearse O'Halloran

Graphic Designer at LOOM

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