Merch used to be little more than cheap tees you bought at a concert and wore once. But The Weeknd flipped that script. His merch drops didn’t just follow his music—they carried the same emotional weight, the same mood, and the same cultural pull. Fans weren’t just buying support; they were buying into a lifestyle. That shift is what transformed The Weeknd merch into a fashion movement.
The Trilogy Era Merch (2012)
Back in 2012, when Trilogy dropped, the merch felt raw, almost underground. Black tees, moody graphics, and stripped-back design echoed the mixtape aesthetic that first put Abel on the map. There was a sense of exclusivity—wearing this merch was like a secret handshake among early fans. These early pieces may not have had luxury fabric or complex cuts, but they set the tone: The Weeknd’s world was darker, moodier, and different from anything else.
Kiss Land Collection (2013)
By 2013, with Kiss Land, the merch started leaning into full-on storytelling. Neon green, Japanese-inspired fonts, and dystopian visuals painted the picture of the album’s lonely, surreal vibe. This was the first time The Weeknd’s clothing felt like an extension of his universe, not just a backdrop. Fans learned a lesson here: when merch is built around narrative, it becomes collectible, a tangible memory of the music’s mood.
Starboy Merch and the Puma Collaboration (2016)
Starboy was a turning point—not just musically, but stylistically. Suddenly, The Weeknd wasn’t only selling tees and hoodies; he was dropping pieces that could hang in the streetwear scene. The Starboy merch featured bold colors, cross imagery, and futuristic edge. On top of that, his Puma XO collaboration showed he was serious about design. From bomber jackets to sneakers, it blurred the line between merch and mainstream streetwear, teaching us that artist-led fashion could compete with the big players.
After Hours Drop (2020)
When After Hours arrived, so did one of the most iconic The Weeknd merch moments. The red suit, the bandaged face, the neon Vegas-inspired visuals—it all spilled into the clothing. Hoodies, graphic tees, and jackets pulled directly from the album’s eerie nightlife vibe. Fans weren’t just repping an artist; they were stepping into his cinematic world. The After Hours drop proved that merch could double as performance art, extending the album’s narrative into closets worldwide.
XO as a Lifestyle Brand
Over time, the XO logo itself grew beyond just a fan symbol. It became a lifestyle marker. Minimalistic hoodies, oversized fits, and monochrome designs made XO merch wearable daily, even if you weren’t heading to a show. This is where The Weeknd quietly shifted his fashion lane—by turning his merch into a label that worked on its own. XO represented belonging, and its understated design meant it wasn’t locked to a specific era.
The Dawn FM Capsule (2022)
By the time Dawn FM dropped, The Weeknd was experimenting even more boldly. The visuals leaned into retro-futurism, surreal radio aesthetics, and haunting imagery of Abel aged into the future. The merch mirrored this: distorted graphics, icy color palettes, and limited-edition vinyl bundles paired with clothing. It wasn’t just apparel; it was collectible art. Fans wore it, but many also framed it, treating it like cultural memorabilia.
Cultural Legacy: Why These Drops Still Matter
Looking back, each wave of The Weeknd merch didn’t just coincide with an album—it defined its era. From the underground Trilogy tees to the polished XO lifestyle pieces, his drops showed how music and fashion could move together as one. More importantly, they reshaped how fans view merch: not as disposable souvenirs but as wearable culture. That’s why these drops changed the game—they made us realize that merch, at its best, is history stitched into fabric.