From Paranormal Inspiration to Sketch
Every piece of XPLR merch starts not in a design studio, but in the dark corners of an abandoned asylum or the cold halls of a forgotten prison. Sam and Colby don't just stumble upon these places - they chase the stories that linger there. When a location feels especially active, when shadow figures appear in thermal footage or EVPs come through clear as day, that moment is captured. That moment becomes the seed of a design. A distorted window from the Waverly Hills Sanatorium or the silhouette of a figure from the conjuring house - these aren't random graphics. They are direct artifacts of an experience that left both of them breathless. The sketches begin rough, often on napkins or phone notes during the drive back. The goal is to preserve the raw energy before rational thought softens it. One more time, they look at the footage to ensure the design captures the dread or wonder they felt.
Once the concept is locked in, the team translates it into a digital sketch. The challenge is balancing the haunting detail with wearability. A design that scares you on screen also has to feel right on a hoodie or hat. Sam and Colby often reject polished versions because they lose the grit. They want the texture of decay, the unevenness of a crumbling wall, the flicker of a shadow. This phase is a back and forth where the paranormal evidence itself acts as the art director.
The Role of Fan Feedback in New Drops
XPLR is not a one-way broadcast. The community - the XPLR family - is the other half of the design equation. After every investigation, Sam and Colby post snippets of footage on social media, not just for views but to gauge reactions. Which symbols make fans pause? Which locations spark the most theories? That feedback directly influences which sketches make it to production. If fans obsess over a particular EVP that sounds like a whisper, the next drop might feature a typography that mimics that sound frequency. It is a loop: the haunting inspires the merch, the merch inspires conversation, and the conversation shapes future designs.
This process means that some designs are scrapped because the community feels disconnected from the source. And that's fine. Sam and Colby would rather release nothing than release something that doesn't resonate. They read comments during design meetings. They know that the most sold-out drops have been the ones where fans felt they were part of the creation. Locked in with the XPLR family, every merch drop becomes a shared secret.
Limited Edition Drops and Their Haunting Stories
Limited edition drops are not a marketing gimmick - they are a narrative device. Each drop ties directly to a specific location or investigation. For example, when they explored the Queen Mary, the designs featured stylized portholes and fog-like gradients, while the Sallie House collection used battered wood textures and a single childlike handprint. These aren't themes; they are souvenirs of a real encounter. And because the locations are often dangerous or scheduled for demolition, there is a sense of finality. Once the series sells out, that story is closed. The rarity adds value, but more importantly, it forces fans to be present. You either get it when it drops, or you miss that chapter of the journey.
The drops are announced with minimal notice - often just a cryptic post on Instagram with a countdown. Sam and Colby want the adrenaline of the hunt to mirror the tension of the investigation. No rereleases. No restocks. One more time is all you get. This approach builds a collector culture where each piece is a badge of being there when it happened.
Materials That Endure the Elements
When you're exploring a damp basement or a dusty attic, you need gear that can take a hit. Sam and Colby design their merch for the adventurer, not the desk sitter. Hoodies use heavyweight cotton blends that can withstand scraping against brick walls and tree branches. Tees are pre-shrunk so they stay true to size after countless washes. Embroidery is used for logos that won't peel off after a trip through the laundromat. The black colorway - a staple in XPLR drops - isn't just aesthetic. It hides the grime of real exploration.
But there is a deeper purpose: durability honors the experience. A hoodie that frays after one wear undercuts the authenticity of the story it represents. Sam and Colby wear-test every prototype during actual investigations. If a pocket rips while climbing a fence or a graphic fades after being drenched in rain, it goes back to the drawing board. The merch must be as tough as the stories that inspired it.
Signed Pieces: A Personal Touch from Sam & Colby
When you order a signed piece, you're not just getting an autograph. Sam and Colby sit down together - often after a long investigation night - and sign each item. They add small doodles or references to the specific location that inspired the design. A hat from the Pennhurst drop might have a tiny ghost drawn on the brim. A hoodie from the St. James Hotel collection might include a miniature key. These touches are unannounced and vary per item. It turns a mass-produced object into a one-of-a-kind artifact.
The signing process is also a reflection. They hold each piece and remember the fear, the laughter, the moments of disbelief. That energy transfers into the signature. Fans who receive these items often report feeling a connection - like owning a piece of the legend. And while the signatures are not professionally graded, the emotional value exceeds any certification.
One More Time: How You Can Influence Future Designs
The XPLR family doesn't just buy merch - they shape it. After every drop, Sam and Colby review the feedback: what sold out fastest, what comments kept appearing, what fan art reinterpreted the designs. They actively look for patterns. If fans consistently modify a particular symbol or suggest a missing piece, that becomes a candidate for the next collection. When you tag your merch on social media using #XPLR, you are essentially submitting a design brief. Your photos show how the merch integrates into real life - what colors fade, what fits feel right, what symbols resonate in different environments.
So here's the call: stay engaged. When they ask what location you want investigated next, don't just reply with a name. Describe the feeling you expect. That feeling might become the next design. One more time, your voice can turn a fleeting experience into something permanent. If you want to be part of the next drop, head over to the store and grab something from the current collection. Each purchase is a signal of what matters most to this community. Let Sam and Colby know what stories you want to wear.