Werner Bronkhorst’s Limited Forbidden Grass Merch Collection Sells Out in Record Time

Australian artist Werner Bronkhorst takes us back to the nostalgic moments spent outdoors with his latest collection, 'Forbidden Grass.' Known for his unique style of painting tiny, hyper-realistic people on textured backdrops, Werner draws inspiration from his childhood in South Africa.

The lush greens and intricate details in his artwork bring a wave of nostalgia, reminding us of the simple joys of nature. 'Forbidden Grass' isn't just art; it's a celebration of those small, unforgettable moments spent outdoors.

The Launch of Forbidden Grass: Art Meets Merch

With his previous exhibits being online-only, the universal nostalgia of this collection called for a more tangible experience for its launch. The exhibit spanned four days in London, combining art and recreation by allowing visitors to explore an immersive indoor mini-golf course while engaging with the art.

“Nature, synonymous with the colour green, evokes countless childhood memories of outdoor play and fun. Although I'm not yet 23, I strive to capture these memories in my art before they fade. Thus, I present to you, Collection 6: 'Forbidden Grass'. A collection that celebrates all tennis players, football fans, dog walkers, picnic goers, golf lovers, and more. “ - Werner Bronkhorst

Bronkhorst made the collection tangible by releasing a limited-edition line of merchandise complementing the original artworks. This included exclusive prints, posters, and crewneck sweaters that mirrored the themes and aesthetics of the artworks.

The Forbidden Grass Sweater: A Cheeky Nod to Its Namesake

The standout piece in the collection was undoubtedly the Forbidden Grass Sweater. Crafted from a 340gsm cotton and polyester blend and available in three colours, it quickly became a favourite. “I’m not usually a crewneck sweater guy,” Werner admits, “but I’ve been living in these since we got the samples. They’re just that good.”

But it wasn’t just the design that caught people’s attention—it was the packaging. The sweaters were packaged to look like something straight out of a pharmacy—a fun, cheeky nod to the collection’s name.

Each one came in a zip bag, wrapped in tissue paper printed with “instructions for use” in multiple languages. This clever touch made the unboxing experience more memorable, and tied in nicely with the overall launch of the collection.

A Sold-Out Success

Launched alongside his London exhibition from July 18-21, the Forbidden Grass merch collection sold out in record time. For those who missed out, Werner’s team has reassured fans that while the original Forbidden Grass collection may no longer be available, more exciting projects are in the pipeline.

Lessons from Werner's Success

Werner’s "Forbidden Grass" merch drop is a perfect example of how artists can take their work beyond traditional mediums and turn it into wearable art. By transforming his paintings into apparel, he created conversation starters that made his art more accessible to a wider audience.

He didn’t stop there—by keeping his merch limited edition, Werner made his pieces more accessible to his audience at large whilst still making them feel like they were buying one of his artworks by keeping the merch extremely limited. This also allowed him to test the idea with his audience by not committing to a large Minimum Order Quantity and sticking to four colours - Soft Pink, Forest Green, Bitter Chocolate and Werner’s personal favourite; Warm Grey.

Bring your Art to Life with Fabra

This is a great reminder that your art doesn’t have to live on a canvas or screen. With Fabra’s 3D design editor, you can bring your work to life in new ways. Customise everything from dyeing a unique color to artwork placement, and create something that’s truly your own. Best of all? You can test your designs production minimums as low as 1 using stock colors and 10 dyeing your custom colors. With user-friendly templates, creative flexibility, real-time 3D previews, and one-click production, Fabra makes it easy to bring your original artwork to life.

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