Tour merch is nearly as popular as streetwear. Instigated mainly by Ye and Virgil Abloh in the mid-2010s with the 2013 Yeezus tour merch, these designs sell out– and fast. From oversized hoodies to graphic tees, merch has evolved into a cultural statement, blurring the lines between concert souvenirs and high-fashion collectibles. A marker of taste, and the ultimate icebreaker—whether it’s sparking a conversation about your shared love for Astroworld or putting you on the spot in a surprise Nirvana pop quiz (“Name three songs that aren’t Smells Like Teen Spirit”), these collectible signifiers constitute one of the hottest trends in fashion and music. And they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. The latest must-have? Majid Jordan’s designs for their Good People world tour, of course.
The Canadian-Bahraini duo, set to perform in the Middle East for the first time this week, have partnered with homegrown talent to create exclusive merch ahead of their Dubai and Bahrain shows on Nov. 22 and Nov. 24, respectively. Comprised of Jordan Ullman and Majid Al-Maskati, the group unveiled the designs on Instagram today, featuring collaborations with local lifestyle brand Shabab and Egyptian artist Abdelrhman Mohamed.
Mohamed, a 25-year-old graphic designer who takes Hollywood and Middle East pop culture and turns it on its head, dreamed up an exclusive poster for the duo in his signature retro style that combines an Arab and vintage feel. The poster features painterly portraits of the duo alongside vintage Arabic text in bright yellow and white against a red background. The decision to incorporate Arabic script into the design are obvious—in addition to holding the shows in the Middle East, Al-Mastaki’s roots are in Bahrain and the R&B group’s fourth studio album, Good People, was partly recorded in the small island country.
In addition to the poster, Majid Jordan has also joined forces with Shabab—spearheaded by Canadian-Iraqi twins Chebmoha and Zainab Hasoon—for two exclusive graphic tees. The design marks their second collaboration together. The t-shirts come in two different colorways: one, a simple white with “Shabab” and “Majid Jordan” and “Dubai” and “Bahrain” written in Arabic text in the front. The back of the shirt features Shabab and Majid Jordan’s logos, alongside a graphic of a sunset, a nod to their recent album’s cover, and the Dubai and Bahrain tour dates. The other, a plain black, features a dramatic illustration of two black horses galloping forward while the silhouette of a futuristic cityscape rises against the sky behind them. The back features Shabab written in bold Arabic lettering, and below that, the dates and venues of Majid Jordan’s Middle Eastern shows are listed in a sleek white font.
In August, Majid Jordan and Shabab unveiled “The Message” Long Sleeve Tee, a wearable postcard that captures the tranquil beauty of a Bahraini sunset. Set against a crisp white canvas, the centerpiece of the design, a vibrant image of the sun dipping below the horizon, was inspired by a real video the duo captured while recording in Bahrain—which went on to serve as the Good People album cover.
