Blackmerle

BLACKMERLE literally stands for “A dog coated with irregular streaks and speckles”. Inspired by the colorful jitter of merle fur, the label explores the interplay of chaos and unity inherent to a fully interoperable line of ready-to-wear and accessories.

Since launching Blackmerle in 2016, founder and designer Terry Shin has extrapolated the concept of military-style compatibility standards, to its radical conclusion: modular clothing, ready to be deconstructed and repurposed per the requirements of the mission at hand. Transformable elements that allow garments to exist in multiple forms.

In practice, the effect transcends any characterization of simply being ‘tacticool’, as wearers are beckoned to construct a texturally rich agglomeration of attachments and outerwear components that are less representative of a puerile military fantasy and more a startling glimpse at an alternate mid-apocalypse timeline where true ownership is limited to what the body can physically carry.