Death Rides a Tarot Card on This Week's Best Enamel Pin

A photo posted by Strike Gently Co. (@strikegentlyco) on

Oct 18, 2016 at 8:38am PDT

As the founder of Strike Gently Co, I deal in pins and patches daily. The Creators Project asked me to pull together a weekly roundup of the best newly-released pins. Most of these will probably sell out. If you like them, smash that “add to cart” button. Every Wednesday, you can head to the bottom of this article for an exclusive discount code so you can keep your pin game sharp.  

I think I saw more people out and about wearing pins and patches this week than ever before. I don’t understand how fashion works, but I sure am glad that this trend has had a slow burn. If it stays classy, it should last a while. For pin makers seeking longevity, try making original works alongside your dumb bootlegs and political punditry. There are enough lame buttons in the world already. Here are five pins from five quality pin makers:

A photo posted by @coldtoes on

Oct 11, 2016 at 1:53pm PDT

Despite not releasing that many products, Cold Toes is one of my favorites. When he does, they're tasteful and well-designed. Most pin companies are extremely kitschy, relying on dead cultural references to get by. Cold Toes is one of the elite few with design sense—even if the morning star flail was made up by Victorian con men.

$7.00 here.

A photo posted by handsomeandpopular (@handsomeandpopular) on

Sep 1, 2016 at 10:09pm PDT

Then again, there are are uncreative cultural references, there are creative cultural references, and then there are just straight-up weird references that I like for some reason—this pin falls into the latter category. Most millennials don't have the self-discipline to floss the old fashioned way. Thankfully, someone invented a highly wasteful but highly effective answer. Now that we’re in our twenties and wasting money on accessories, we can buy a pin of this flosser. Time is a flat circle.

$8.00 here.

A photo posted by Toxic Curiosity (@toxic_curiosity) on

Oct 11, 2016 at 7:48am PDT

I’ve been wanting to make a tarot pin for a while but didn’t get to it—I’m surprised there aren’t more already. Death right here looks great, both simple and highly effective. The best pins are the ones that anyone can make, but not everyone thinks to make—sort-of like modern art.

$10.00 here.

A photo posted by Inner Decay (@innerdecay) on

Oct 11, 2016 at 10:18am PDT

Inner Decay is basically the reigning king of the pin game, consistently ushering in completely creative designs. The real clincher is that he’s never a dick about it. He’s just a great guy releasing great stuff. This one is a particular favorite. New York City is filled with trash and if you live here long enough you too can become it—such wonderful harmony and balance is what makes life worth living. Be one with the trash.

$10.00 here.

A photo posted by Dropped Pin  (@dropped.pin) on

Jul 15, 2016 at 2:06pm PDT

Back in the 70s people made and collected enamel pins. Those were actually handmade and each one was a bit different. This is a recreation of one of those old pins executed flawlessly by Dropped Pin. Nice work, guys. I’ll wear this and pretend I’m in a biker gang wearing a shirt that says "Ass, Grass, or Gas…"

$12.00 here.

That’s it for this week. Get 20% off my shop, Strike Gently Co, with code FALL20. Expires at the end of the week.

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