The enamel pin revival that Pintrill kicked off a few years ago has reached a fever pitch, becoming one of the most prominent streetwear accessories in recent times. Clustered on denim jackets, lapels, and leather bombers, the glossy little pins are an affordable way to express your tastes and personality. From internet memes to original artwork to homages to your favorite artist/hot sauce/emoji, there’s really nothing that you can’t wear in the form of a pin.
Beyond accessorizing, pins have also become a vehicle for many independent artists to affordably advertise their work. It’s increasingly common to see illustrations, prints, or paintings get converted into enamel pins and widely disseminated on Instagram. As zine and clothing producer Valley Cruise Press explained in an interview with the Creators Project, “Art [on Instagram] is suddenly so much more accessible and people want a way to show off the designs that inspire them. Pins are a great way to take art offline and put it onto your favorite shirt for everyone to see.”
One need only hit the #Pinstagram hashtag to fall into an endless k-hole of inventive, flair-worthy pins – including the work of several Latino artists and pinmakers. Here are eight artists we love, who happen to have teamed up for a special giveaway of their work, which ends on Thursday.
Check out the flier above for info on how to win eight of their enamel pins, and learn more about the artists and their designs below.
1
The Hermosa Co.
The Hermosa Co. is an Oregon-based shop run by a Xicanx couple. They draw inspiration from Mexican American culture, pop culture, and feminism.
2
Benjie Escobar
LA-based Benjie Escobar has dabbled in several mediums, including having worked with several brands on T-shirt designs. His work references Pomona – where he spent his childhood – graffiti, lowrider culture, the 90s, raves, and more. And best of all, it comes sprinkled with Benjie’s signature snarky humor.
3
PINetration
PINetration was created with the intent to combine pop culture with the nostalgia of Latino cultura. Their motto, Para La Raza, is a statement about the community they aim to cater to, along with “those who chose to positively embrace the beauty of our humble upbringing.”
4
Pop Aesthete
Pop Aesthete is the moniker of Cristobal Saez, Chilean-American designer and illustrator. His inspirations range from telenovelas to drag queens to internet culture and his designs are created with Warholian aesthetics in mind.
5
Knot Your Friend
Samantha Sandoval is a Xicana hand embroidery artist from El Paso, TX who’s been living in San Francisco for the last ten years. She is inspired by feminism and Xican@ art.
6
Espacio 1839
Boyle Heights-based Espacio 1839 is a local independent shop that regularly posts about feminism and community. Using art graphic design, Espacio 1839 creates pins that pay tribute to Boyle Heights.
Follow Espacio 1839 on Instagram.
7
BRK House
BRK House is a design studio started by husband and wife Manuel and Steffi Esqueda. Most designs come from early childhood influences like loteria and lucha libre; the rest come from day to day inspirations like butterfly knifes and cartoons.
8
Move in Silence Co.
Between confleis, Bart Simpson, and esprai pins, the artist behind Move in Silence Co.’s work will take bicultural Latinos back to their childhoods. Raised in North Hollywood, California, this artist decided to get into the pin game because of the creativity and detail it requires.