Note: I've tried to make sure I found the correct link for each project, but if unsure, please double check. Also, I have not bought from any of the links listed, so I cannot say anything about the quality of the different merch.
From your purchase we support free software, usually $3-5 from each product sold. But not everybody can accept money due to legal reasons, in this case, we give free shirts to developers.
Just get some fabrics and compile it yourself, easy peasy
I've checked a few Linux merch stores and most of what I see looks like really limited or dated stock. I think distros are missing a trick by not putting more focus on it.
Even Gnome's stuff looks kinda ugly, despite them making an absolutely gorgeous DE.
I'd 100% pick something up. There's something in my dumb monkey brain that makes me more likely to spend £30 on a Linux merch jumper than to spend £10 on a normal jumper and £20 on a donation
It’s all about the merchandising! Your ‘dumb money brain’ is shared by many. They are selling an emotional product represented by a cheap trinket or gee-gaw. Retail psychology is really interesting
I have a gentoo sweater. They have an official merch store, but it looked a bit rough. I, shamefully, got a made on demand sweater from Amazon with the gentoo logo on it. I did also donate the price of the sweater straight to gentoo though as well. I donate to them from time to time.
I got a Rocky Linux shirt directly from them. I didn’t think the shirt material was great as it was that kinda rough cotton but happy I was able to support. If anyone from Rocky Linux reads this, I’d buy another shirt if it was softer!