Mingyu’s potato merch, S.Coups’ umbrella: Seventeen designs collection for fans
Seventeen’s Mingyu is not only handsome, he’s also very smart. Fans first started calling him “potato” because his cute, round face reminded them of one.
During a live broadcast, he enumerated how fans teased him with the moniker: with makeup, he’s a “handsome potato”; when he spreads his fingers while waving to fans, he’s “French fries”; and when he keeps his fingers together, he’s “a hash brown.”
Jeonghan chimed in, joking that if Mingyu gets a nosebleed, he’s a “potato with ketchup.”
At first, Mingyu wasn’t entirely happy with the comparison, but he decided to embrace the identity. He kept this trend in mind when creating his merchandise. Mingyu drew the potato that inspired the logo for his items and added the slogan, “I am not a potato,” a playful nod to his resistance to the nickname. In the same breath, he coined the term “Kimja,” a portmanteau of his surname and the Korean word for potato.
The potato logo is embroidered on the navy blue robe he designed for Carats (Seventeen’s fandom). He chose the robe because it’s something he likes to wear after applying lotion. The potato logo is also featured on the handle covers of the pot and pan set he created, which is ideal for cooking a single serving of ramyeon and frying at least five eggs.
Seventeen hub
Mingyu’s designs, along with the rest of Seventeen’s Artist-Made Collection, are available at the pop-up store on Level 3, North Main Mall of SM Mall of Asia. The pop-up will be open until Feb. 26.
Manila has become a Seventeen hub, offering various events and venues for fans flying in to experience the “Right Here” concert on Feb. 18–19 at the Philippine Sports Stadium. In Taguig City, D’Festa BGC is still ongoing, with the group as one of the featured artists.
The pop-up is located at the same venue where the “Space of BTS” pop-up was held last year, which was also organized by Apop Collections. The area has been redesigned to showcase the members’ carefully crafted merchandise. A row of standees displays samples of all the products available at the store, doubling as photo spots for visitors.
Key rings
While there is no Philippine-exclusive merchandise, fans can customize a key ring at the pop-up. A buffet of acrylic charms is available, with prices ranging from P140 to P170. The charms include the members’ signatures—S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino—as well as their character designs.
Visitors can personalize their key rings according to their preferences. This customization feature is a standard offering at Seventeen pop-ups worldwide. Additionally, purchasing a Caratbong (lightstick) from the store earns fans a free charm of their choice. At the cashier, every Artist-Made product purchased comes with a free postcard featuring the same member who designed the item.
What makes these items special is the members’ involvement, from conceptualization to material selection. Each item was crafted with love and designed with Carats in mind.
Plushies and blankets
Here’s a closer look at what the members created:
S.Coups, known for telling fans, “It will be clear after the rain,” was inspired to create an umbrella for them. Jeonghan’s ingenuity shone through when he conceptualized an animal character based on himself, reasoning that it could lead to a wide range of merchandise. From this idea, Toram was born—a mix of a squirrel and a bunny. Toram was transformed into a mood lamp, where the creature sleeps atop the moon, as well as a cushion and blanket set designed for warmth and comfort.
Joshua crafted a perfume kit featuring a guide to his favorite scents, giving fans the freedom to create their own blends. One scent, “Sunday Morning,” holds special meaning, as it’s inspired by a song he enjoys singing.
Jun incorporated his love for drawing cats, often showcased on fan signs, into his designs. He created a key ring set featuring cats carrying his favorite fruits on their heads, with the fruits being lightly scented.
Hoshi stayed true to his tiger persona, creating an adorable plushie named Tamtam, which reflects his meticulous attention to detail.
Wonwoo presented the most expensive item in the collection—a customized keyboard with personalized keycaps at P7,600. He also designed a camera bag that is perfect for concerts.
Woozi focused on comfort with a tableware set and a rug so soft one could lie on it.
DK shared his perspective through a photo book featuring his travel photography. He also brought humor and warmth with a dog plushie wearing a pizza hat and a jacket with pizza-inspired designs.
The8 chose practical and charming items, including a frog-shaped sleeping mask, cozy slippers, and a beginner-friendly tea set with the number 8 discreetly engraved at the bottom of the cups.
Seungkwan championed wellness with a gua sha tool for facial massages and a sleek sports bag for staying active. Vernon contributed an insulated cup for both hot and cold drinks, as well as a white vase designed to hold an abundance of flowers.
Lastly, Dino wanted items that their fans could share with a loved one during a special day such as a wine glass and candle.
