Thirst Trap x StAArt Up Fund

At American Apparel®, we’re not just here for the fits — we’re here for the culture. That’s why we launched the StAArt Up Fund , an initiative backing emerging Australian music artists with $10,000 worth of custom-printed merch.

We’ve already wrapped round one, and the response was massive — over 100 applications from artists across the country. From that pool, we picked three to kick things off and one of them is Thirst Trap .

Based in Northern Rivers, NSW, Thirst Trap are a five-piece band shaking up the scene with a mash-up of indie rock, alt-rock, and reggae. Their sound is raw, rhythmic, and impossible to ignore. 

For Thirst Trap, merch isn’t a bonus — it’s the backbone. “ After a show, one of us heads straight to the merch table — that’s our main income. It pays for recording, pays for fuel, pays for everything. That all comes from merch,” they reveal.

So we teamed up and gave their designs the American Apparel® treatment: high-quality prints on iconic blanks that look good, feel better, and last the long haul. Backing talent like this is what the StAArt Up Fund is all about.

Round Two is now officially open — from 16 June to 10 August. If you’re an emerging music artist, this is your shot at $10,000 worth of custom merch to fuel your next chapter.

Apply now .
Because as Thirst Trap put it: “Why wouldn’t you do it? You’ve got nothing to lose.”