Fandom — six-letter portmanteau on
the words fan and kingdom — means a strong and massive fan base. When a certain artist or work of art, like a
book or film for instance, is called to have a fandom, it connotes that it has
a cult following and that its popularity and influence could never be
underestimated.
Members of a fandom are known to
be fangirls and fanboys. Although they
are both fangirls and fanboys are just like any ordinary fan who drools at the
sight of their idol, they differ from the conventional fans because they have a
strong loyalty, almost to the point of tipping into obsession, towards their
idols despite their young age. For
celebrity fandoms, what is more astonishing is that these fanboys and fangirls
could be so devoted to their idols, they defend them from online bashers who
are known as antis, in such a feisty, almost aggressive manner, like they have
known them since time immemorial, when in fact, reality check says that they
had rare to non-existent encounters with these stars.
The existence of these fandoms
and their hundred- to million-strong fan base became the inspiration for one
self-proclaimed fangirl to come up with a shop that highlights the what could
be likened to as a national pride for certain fandoms.
Fandomia, a name that sounds like
some mythical fandom from a parallel dimension, is an online shop selling
printed shirts that highlights your devotion (or obsession) to a certain book
series and movie. It
is the brainchild of Danna Mae Catan, a certified fangirl at heart, although
going into business was more likely of a serendipitous opportunity rather than
a planned undertaking.
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| Who ever is in love with the Mortal Instruments would want one of this shirt. Sample design from Fandomia. |
It all began during on day
worldwide premiere of the second installment of the Percy Jackson movie, Percy
Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. As a
follower of the movie, Danna would have wanted to wear a Camp Half-Blood shirt
on that day, but cannot do so due to being short in finances. So she asked her mom’s friend to make her a
replica of the shirt and when one fangirl friend saw the shirt, she just wanted
one as well. And so as they say, the rest
was history.
Fandomia became an enterprise
where Danna can apply her skills as a painter.
Meanwhile, since she operates solo, her friends have been there to chip
in their skills in editing designs and painting the shirts.
IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SPARK
“I’m a big fangirl of [The Hunger Games} and it has a good
fanbase [where} I could sell my
shirts,” says Danna after being asked as to why she embarked in selling Hunger
Games shirts. And since the fanbase is
just immense, it helped her business be recognized in more fan circles.
And the best thing that was said
to her by a customer?
“All I need is a bow.”
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| This is how a career tribute would taunt his "weaker" opponents. Sample design from Fandomia. |
CATCHING THE FIRE
“I’m team Peeta but I’ve always
wondered what happened to Gale” says Danna. “Actually I cried when I noticed
that Gale [had] no happy ending. I
mean, after loving Katniss and all his sacrifices and hardwork, he deserves
somebody to take care of him…like ME.”
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| If you are both brave and hot, then you should sport this one. Sample design from Fandomia. |
But Fandomia is not limited to
Hunger Games and Percy Jackson. As of
these writing, Fandomia is done making
faction shirts which are based on the hit series, Divergent and is currently
making designs based on another hit novel, The Fault In Our Stars. However, the store promises making more
Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Beautiful Creatures, and The Mortal Instruments
Shirts.
As Hunger Games fans and all its
so-called subsidiaries will flock the cinemas this November 21, it won’t be a
surprise that one of you might bump into somebody wearing a Fandomia shirt that
encapsulates all their love for the series in one shirt design. And that is the winning formula of Fandomia —
being able to understand the young dote hearts of fangirls and fanboys and all
their fragile yet extraordinary adoration towards the series they adore.
It is in being relatable that
makes Fandomia worthy of the subtle yet inspiring attention they are getting.
Now that’s fabulous!
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