Tyler & Hugh of Residency Merch on Funding Therapy Through Merch

Yes, great quality merch with killer designs is cool. But what if every order also helped someone in your community? For Residency Merch founders Tyler Patterson and Hugh Hughes, designing and creating apparel is how they fund sponsoring trauma therapy for Los Angeles residents and families transitioning out of homelessness. Their nonprofit social enterprise proves that merch can truly help rebuild lives.

Their mission was one of the most inspiring we've come across in the apparel industry, so we sat down with Tyler and Hugh to learn how they created a business where every piece of merchandise helps fund long-term healing.

Below is a snippet from Residency Merch’s full interview with Lane Seven.

What inspired you to link apparel with access to trauma therapy?

In 2020 we started asking ourselves: How could we make a big impact while staying a small company? And the answer we came up with was creating a network of therapists and housing partners and through that we could organize and sponsor trauma therapy.It was something we benefited from going to therapy and trying to get healthier. And so we wanted to provide those opportunities for people who otherwise wouldn't have them.

What does “Design For Eternity” mean to you?

We say merch is designed for eternity if it uses durable materials, bold design, and coherent brand world identity. You should make merch that doesn’t get thrown away and that stays in the wardrobe and can be worn for a long time. We say it should be able to become vintage.

We also say our programs are designed for eternity because we like the idea of sponsoring generational healing. Not just for one person, but healing that can go throughout their lives, their family, and we say it’s eternal.

What’s the secret to creating merch that doesn’t end up in the back of the closet?

I wore this [Lane Seven] hoodie on purpose. I think this was the first time we worked with a client that requested Lane Seven. It’s literally my favorite fit. I have two of these and two crewnecks. So I’m about that life.

For one thing, I think it should be designed well. Work with a designer, work with somebody who has a unique art style. A lot of people think about just putting the logo on it and making it an extension of the brand guide. And that’s cool. We call that classic merch.

But sometimes you should focus on making something that’s just eye-catching. Even if someone doesn’t know your brand, they’re like, ‘I want that shirt.’

What do people misunderstand about what you do?

I think people blame people who are suffering too much. We see trauma as a part of reality and a part of what keeps so many people from being able to live a sustainable life off the streets.

For me, it’s mostly about people misunderstanding what therapy is and how it can be beneficial for people. The alternative is blaming people. And we see that that doesn’t work.

Click here to watch the full interview with Residency Merch and hear more about their journey, their live merch activations, and how they’re using apparel to support long-term healing and community impact.

You can follow Residency Merch at @ResidencyMerch and learn more at ResidencyMerch.com.