Custom Lettering & Illustration

Apparel Illustration

grayscale photography of woman wearing long-sleeved shirt
woman in black blazer smiling
woman in gray and white polka dot blazer standing and smiling
woman in black long sleeve shirt covering her face
a woman wearing sunglasses laying on a bed
closeup of hanged shirts on rack
grayscale photography of woman wearing long-sleeved shirt
a woman wearing sunglasses laying on a bed
closeup of hanged shirts on rack
woman in black long sleeve shirt covering her face
woman in black blazer smiling
woman in gray and white polka dot blazer standing and smiling

My Role

I led the visual development of original illustrations and custom lettering for apparel collections targeting niche subcultures.


My role covered research, concept definition, and final artwork production. The objective was to create designs that felt native to the culture - not inspired by it from the outside.

Motivation to be authentic

The goal was never just to create visually appealing prints, but to design graphics that felt authentic to the subcultures they were made for.


Each illustration was rooted in research, visual references, and a deep understanding of the respective scenes - from metal and gothic to biker culture. The intention was always the same: create designs that even the most dedicated members of the culture would proudly wear.


The benchmark for success was simple: if a hardcore fan or biker club member could look at the design and say “this represents me,” the work had achieved its purpose.

Company

EMP Merchandising HGmbH

Lingen (Ems), Germany

Brands by EMP

Black Premium

Rock Rebel

Gothicana

Full Volume

RED

* Artworks created by Chris Paff for EMP Merchandising HGmbH, 2013 – 2024 – Artworks and Photos courtesy of EMP Merchandising HGmbH, www.emp.de

© 2026 chrispaff.com — All rights reserved.