Wearing Your Heart On Your Sleeve

For most music lovers, their identity is tied to their favourite artists, and the easiest way to communicate that is via a band tee, which could also be seen as a uniform. And it's that uniform that can bring like-minded people together. "It can be a conversation starter," Caz Worsley from Artist First says. "It's a statement in a way, about who you are and what you like, similar to wearing a fashion brand but with another dimension that's music."

Artist First deal with Epitaph Records, Parkway Drive and more, and it's those scenes that usually tend to sell the most merch.

Another label that has a strong connection with fans is Unified, who work with Northlane, The Used, and others. Main man Luke Logemann says band merch acts as a support system. "In the hardcore and metal scenes, I think it helps that a lot of the artists wear other bands' merch themselves. Punters see that, and I guess it catches on for them," he tells.

"Overall wearing merch is a cool way to support the artists you like financially and to have something physical to hold - something that represents your love for the music. In this day and age of streaming and MP3s, I can see why that is especially appealing to people."

But it isn't as simple as getting a bunch of black shirts made or venturing into new territory without carefully analysing your demographic, which is why you probably haven't seen any Iron Maiden turtleneck in your travels. "We did this awesome Northlane boxset for their album Node, which has every song on the record as its own seven-inch vinyl. On the B-Side of each vinyl, was an instrumental version of that song," Logemann explains. "All the spines align to form the upside triangle symbol from the album. Super proud of that one.

"The Used did condoms as part of the last album pre-orders. I found it amazing looking at "used condoms" in our pre-order reports."

Making too much merch is another problem bands and labels encounter, as Worsley points out. "It's good to sell out - you create demand, and you can always do another run if you need to. Also you need to market your merch, social media posts really help to get the word out to your fans."

But there's always a way to fix having too much merch. "I once had a band with a terrible tour manager, who was also selling merch for them. He went to the toilet at a huge show and left the desk unattended," Logemann recalls. "Anyway, some kid stole a box of hoodies and starting handing them out to people for free. So this TM comes back to the desk and realised his mistake. Next thing you know, he goes over to everyone wearing one of these hoodies and starts trying to take them back. We'd sold about 40 of them before the box was stolen too. It wasn't funny at the time but I laugh about it now."

What The Artists Hold Dear

Simon Berckelman (Philadelphia Grand Jury)

I have a Sonic Youth Mug that I really love. I refuse to drink tea out of anything else.

I realised early on that if I left it on the shelf with the other mugs, nine times out of 10 people would choose it.

This led me to resorting to all sorts of things to make sure that I wouldn't have to share it. Lately I have been taking it into my room with me at night. Before that I would never wash it, which worked but was of course disgusting.

Philadelphia Grand Jury's new album Summer Of Doom is out Friday 2 October

Josh Smith (Northlane)

My Bare Bones tee that I turned into a cutoff. It served me well as my gig shirt for a good nine months until I finally had to retire it from too much rocking out.

Jeremy Neale

It's not particularly revolutionary but I bought a mug once from a Spandau Ballet concert that just had the word 'True' written on it in large font as a reference to their 1983 smash hit. What a bold statement. People can't doubt your integrity when you're drinking a coffee from that beast. Other than that I just wanna see more bands do calendars."

Jeremy Neale's Let Me Go Out In Style EP is out now

Top 5 Pieces Of Merch That People Should Own

Descendents Toilet Seat

It's practical; you've got to give them that. The legendary punk rock outfit have been known to deliver interesting merchandise - from oversized coffee mugs and their own brew to stylish watches - but the Descendents branded toilet seat really takes the cake.

Weezer Snuggies

Words cannot describe the greatest of this item, so we'll let the picture do all the talking.

Dexter Holland (The Offspring) Hot Sauce

We know this isn't exactly band merchandise, but The Offspring and hot sauce are both awesome, so your argument is invalid. Frontman Dexter Holland launched Gringo Bandito in 2006.

Tenacious D Cum Rag

Why.

The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die Fork

Kiss Bobbleheads

They were made for rocking you, baby.