Wear Local. Feed Local. Stay Classic.

Merlin Classics began as a question: can artificial intelligence help create a real, working business that serves local communities instead of itself?

The answer turned out to be yes.

The challenge was simple: build an apparel brand with no paid overhead — designed by creatives, implemented with AI, powered by community volunteers, and executed through best-in-class producers — and use it to support local hunger relief.

Merlin Classics operates as a living experiment in how technology, creativity, and local pride can work together to do good. Merlin Classics is a for-profit apparel brand inspired by hometown pride. As part of our mission, we periodically support local hunger-relief efforts in communities we celebrate through our independent corporate-giving program. Purchases are not tax-deductible. Please see our Charity Policy for a full description of how we operate and how you can help.


How it Works

  1. You pick your place. Merlin Classics is an apparel brand inspired by hometown pride and rooted in community service with now over 3,000 products across more than 150 communities. Every city and town means something to someone — maybe it’s where you live, grew up, travel often, dream to visit, or have family roots. Each name on our apparel connects people to places they love — and to communities and neighboring towns where food insecurity still exists.

  2. We make it on-demand with custom designed distinctive logos reflecting hometown pride. Our collections include caps, tees, hoodies, crewnecks, polos, tanks, quarter-zip pullovers, fleece, totes, mugs, and stickers — all designed with our clean, vintage-retro town pride logos and made on demand to reduce waste. We use high-quality materials across all categories, including cottons and performance fabrics so each piece is made to last — for hometown weekends, travel days, or everyday wear.

  3. There are no wages or overhead costs charged to operations. Merlin Classics is built by the community, for the community — all IT, hosting, coding, and day-to-day operations are contributed voluntarily by supporting members without charge. This model keeps our focus where it belongs: crafting high-quality products that celebrate real places while enabling discretionary giving back to local hunger-relief efforts.

  4. We practice discretionary giving. From time to time, management makes contributions to hunger-relief organizations serving broader regions that include the communities we feature. Giving is not tied to individual transactions or products.

Communities We Feature
150+ Towns & Cities

Alaska

AnchorageBarrowBethelCordovaDelta JunctionDenaliDillinghamEagle RiverFairbanksHomerJuneauKenaiKetchikanKodiakNomePalmerPetersburgSewardSitkaSkagwaySoldotnaTalkeetnaValdezWasillaWrangell

California

AnaheimBerkeleyBig SurCarmelFresnoHealdsburgJoshua TreeLake TahoeLos AngelesMontereyNapaOaklandPalm SpringsSacramentoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta BarbaraSanta CruzSanta MonicaSonomaSt HelenaYosemite

Connecticut

BranfordBridgeportClintonCos CobDarienEast HavenEast LymeFairfieldGreens FarmsGreenwichGrotonGuilfordMadisonMilfordMysticNew HavenNew LondonNianticNoankNorwalkOld GreenwichOld LymeOld SaybrookRiversideRowaytonSouthportStamfordStoningtonStratfordWaterfordWest HavenWestbrookWestport

Florida

Boca RatonClearwaterDaytona BeachDestinFort LauderdaleFort MyersGainesvilleJacksonvilleKey LargoKey WestMarco IslandMiamiMiami BeachNaplesOrlandoPalm BeachPanama City BeachPensacolaSarasotaSt AugustineSt Pete BeachSt PetersburgTallahasseeTampaWellingtonWest Palm Beach

Hawaii

Big IslandHaleakalaHanaHiloHonoluluKaanapaliKailuaKaneoheKapaaKapaluaKauaiKonaLahainaLanaiMauiMolokaiNorth ShoreOahuPaiaPearl HarborPoipuWaianaeWaikikiWaileaWaimea

Texas

AmarilloArlingtonAustinBrownsvilleCarrolltonCorpus ChristiDallasDentonEl PasoFort WorthFriscoGarlandGrand PrairieHoustonIrvingKilleenLubbockMcAllenMcKinneyMesquiteMidlandPasadenaPlanoSan AntonioWaco

Questions we get a lot

Does buying a product cause a donation?
No. Purchases are not charitable contributions. Our corporate giving is independent and discretionary, and not tied to specific sales, products, or transactions.

How does your giving work?
From time to time, and at management’s discretion, we may make contributions to reputable hunger-relief organizations that serve regions including the communities we feature.

Do you name recipients in advance?
No. We typically announce recipients after the fact to avoid implying that purchases will generate a donation to a specific group.

Are purchases tax-deductible?
No. You are purchasing goods from a for-profit company, not making a charitable donation.

How can an organization be considered?
Legally recognized charitable organizations, cities and towns in good standing can email merlinclassicsstore@gmail.com with “Organization for Consideration” in the subject, including name, website, service area, and contact information. Please see our Charity Policy for requirements and guidelines before submitting. Submissions are informational only and do not constitute a solicitation.

Important Note: Merlin Classics is a for-profit company and is not a 501(c)(3). We may make contributions at our sole discretion as part of our corporate-giving program. This section is informational only and not a charitable solicitation.