This special editon newsleter explores how licensed merchandise moves beyond novelty into memory, design, and everyday use. Drawing on in-hand reviews of T-shirts, enamel pins, and even cutlery, this issue treats pop-culture objects as cultural artefacts rather than collectibles sealed away for value. It examines how long-lived intellectual property matures, why licensed products often gain quality over time, and how nostalgia can be experienced without becoming kitsch. Alongside new and updated articles, the newsletter reflects on curatorial honesty, editorial disclosure, and the quiet pleasure of using things you genuinely like, letting attention and lived experience do the work.
