BTS Inspires ARMY to Create Her Own Brand of Customized Merchandise
Starting from their humble beginnings to where they are now, BTS has come a long way. And throughout this journey, they have also inspired many ARMYs. Some have taken up learning Korean to connect and share a part of the group’s culture, others have explored their talents in dance, and Moriah Kaufmann a 24-year-old ARMY from the USA was inspired to create her very own brand!
Pins.Momo is an aesthetic collection of BTS merch designed by Moriah herself. It features enamel pins, key chains, necklaces, stickers and temporary tattoos inspired by BTS.
The brand is especially well known among many ARMYs for its unique and interactive enamel pins.
Unlike the usual designs of the enamel pins released by Big Hit officially, the pins designed by Moriah feature photoshoots of BTS, different concept eras, and her own personal designs. They can be worn on jackets, purses, hats or added to your unofficial collectable merch of BTS.
Pins.Momo started off with its own humble beginning with only 50 pins and a single design. However, they ended up selling out immediately.
“I honestly had no idea about pins, pin collecting or how to run a business, and I literally cried when they sold out immediately. I remember going to my friend’s job and handing her the first manufactured pin that I made, and she promptly put it on her shirt. This inspired me to keep creating new designs,” said Moriah.
The Spinny Pins from Pins.Momo are interactive ones that can be moved around. There are also those designed with a 3D effect, some with tiny chains that must be individually installed on hooks, those that glow in the dark, some that reflect light through it like a stained-glass window and even one that features over 45 colours.
“Personally, I tend to be loud and outspoken and I feel my pins reflect that. I continually try to push the boundaries of people’s expectations of me and their expectations of what a pin should be.”
Collecting merch is every fan’s dream. But sometimes they are either too costly or are too simple for their price. The pins from Pins.Momo, however, are large and include a lot of details. With a range of colours, also being incorporated into their design, they easily stand out.
While designing and managing Pins.Momo by herself, Moriah is also a college student majoring in graphic design at the University of Maryland. She says BTS has always pushed her to become a better version of herself. Their message of self-love has inspired her to take chances while being more positive and forgiving of herself. This has helped her in her studies and given her the courage to keep doing what she does best.
“Since I was introduced to the music and overall talent of BTS, I have changed and grown in many ways. The designs are an expression of my gratitude and love for the music, talent, and the positive messages they impart. I often receive texts and emails telling me how much my pins and art have helped others through hard times because they represent part of a song, image or a message that speaks to their heart and mind. This makes me feel happy to know that what I create can make someone else also happy.”
Depending on the complexity of a pin, she takes from 2 days to one week to design them. The ‘Festa pin’ which is also a fan favourite took over a week and features over 45 colours with all the BTS members included in it. Other simpler designs like the ‘Moon children’ pin took over two days and have a limited number of colours incorporated into it.
Moriah became an ARMY after watching BTS’s performance at the American Music Awards in 2017. This love for the band later inspired her to collaborate with BTS Light Boxes by SEVEN to recreate their Fake Love performance in the form of a lightbox. She has also designed an electric lantern inspired by Fake Love with the silhouette of each member on the side. These are a recent addition to her customized merch, along with hoodies designed by her.
“I have been trying to broaden my product line because there is a demand for other merchandise. Also, pins not only take a long time to make, but some of my designs do not work as a pin. I have always wanted to make some kind of apparel and with many people working and going to school from home these days, sweatshirts seemed like the perfect because they are comfortable and warm and a great way to show your love for Bangtan!”
This year in September Moriah celebrated 2 years since starting her brand and has shipped her products to over 77 countries. She says that through this journey she has been able to make lifelong friends and share the ups and downs of life with people from around the world. She was able to raise funds for her pet dog’s surgery through the proceeds from her BTS pin sales and even had people donating and sending personalized gifts for her dog Koby.
“BTS has helped me see myself in a different light. I have not only become more confident in the abstract, but I have applied that confidence in my life and have accomplished things that I only dreamed of. While I am always trying to improve as a person, BTS has also helped me accept myself for exactly who I am, flaws and all. It is hard to overestimate all that I have gained from BTS, but I am certain that my life would look completely different had I never discovered the boys. For that, I am forever grateful.”
Find Moriah’s merch on https://www.pinsmomo.com/ and check out her social pages on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for detailed reviews and images.
