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| Photo courtesy of Yoonkook Paradise |
In today's From Fan to Creative, we talk to Erica, also known as Yoonkook Paradise. If you’re based in the UK, chances are you’ve probably attended one of her cupsleeve events or snapped a photo with her iconic Yoongi cutout. Her admiration for the boys goes beyond fan events and she also designs intricate and colourful pins. Since stumbling across BTS back in 2017, her passion for DIY took new heights fueled by the need to see more Yoongi themed pins!
Cut to today, where Erika’s upcoming cupsleeve event, 12 years with BTS, will take place in London during the FESTA weekend. If that wasn't enough, she’s created a unique and fun BTS photo frame for fans to enjoy at Pick Pic in Leicester Square. Events like these are well loved, especially around FESTA time, but to hear that events like these have been in the works since February? That deserves some appreciation and extra recognition. I caught up with Erika to talk about her creative process, everything from plushies to photocards and much more!
Let's start from the beginning. What got you into the creative path that you are in today? Have you always been drawing?
Erica: I’ve always had a creative streak, even before stumbling across BTS in 2017. I love creating, DIY-ing and trying new things. My reasoning behind starting YoonKook Paradise is actually a little self-indulgent. I wanted to see more Yoongi pins! Jungkook, there were already a million, but I couldn’t help but include him too as my bias wrecker. I wanted to see if this was something I could do, and with a little encouragement from my friend, I pushed ahead and went for it, and here I am! It’s still mostly a hobby more than anything else, but it makes me happy, so I keep doing it.
What makes you pick a certain look for the boys, and how do you decide which one to go ahead and release as a pin?
Erica: So I was much better at keeping up with the newly released content a couple of years ago. What came out, I’d make a design of, and usually the popular designs are what I ended up turning into real pins. Though I will admit, there were several occasions where I selfishly went ahead with a pin because I really wanted to see it come to life.
You’ve gone from pins to photocard holders, but you also created a plushie. What made you decide on creating a plushie, and would you plan on creating any others?
Erica: I love branching out and creating new things. I usually see what’s the hype and decide if that’s something I can jump in on – after careful consideration, of course. It actually took me ages to design the photo card holders before I was satisfied. The plushies were something I sat on for a very long time. The samples are crazy expensive, but I decided to bite the bullet and self-fund it. The response from ARMY was insane. I was ecstatic. I would have to have a major interest to consider making more plushies in the future. Though I believe my best seller has to be the frames I designed for the D-DAY guitar pick merch. I had never had so many group orders before!
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| Photo courtesy of Yoonkook Paradise |
The cup sleeves you run are incredibly creative and, of course, featured the life-size Min Yoongi cutout. For you, what makes events like these so fun and joyous for fans? And also, will the cut-out be making an appearance once again?
Erica: I never in a million years thought I’d be hosting events, but I can definitely say it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done and continue to do. I’m so glad I took the leap.
Cupsleeve events bring the ARMY community together. I love interacting with everyone. I’ve made so many friends at events. Even when I’m invited to events as a vendor, I’m mostly looking forward to hanging out with people – I always have an amazing time. The life-size Yoongi cutout now has a new home! I let a lucky ARMY take him to my most recent Yoongi Day cupsleeve event. It made them really happy.
When it comes to events, what are some of the pros and cons of putting one together instead of just arriving as a vendor?
Erica: I love having creative freedom to design goodies for events, but I think the most enjoyable factor about hosting is the day of and seeing people enjoy themselves. It’s so rewarding to see it all come together. The planning, designing and ordering in advance can be incredibly stressful and nerve-wrecking, especially if I need to self-fund everything first.
You just never know if tickets will sell. If it’s money down the drain. It’s why I do my best to create and plan an event ARMY would love to go to. Their money is going into my art, and so I want it to be worth it. Being invited as a vendor is easy. You arrive, set up your stuff to sell, interact with ARMY, and then it’s time to go. You don’t have to worry much about promoting or the cool things you need to include to make the event stand out from others. I love both, but I might love hosting more.
Speaking of cup sleeves, you’ll be hosting an event to celebrate 12 years of BTS at Compose Coffee on the 15th of June. What can people expect from this event that is different from others? And what makes FESTA celebrations so exciting, in your opinion?
Erica: I’m super excited about hosting BTS’ 12 Years! I have had everything planned since February; isn’t that crazy? I’m actually having a few collaborations this time. As I’ve mentioned previously, I love trying new things. For the 10 Years Anniversary (the first event I ever hosted with a lovely friend), I ordered a custom Instagram frame for people to take pictures! It was a nuisance to carry around London, but it was so worth it. This time around I’m collaborating with PickPic so people can take pictures with a custom anniversary frame on the day of the event and keep it as a memory!
This event is also being sponsored by Blooming Dream Co a BTS shop consisting of two lovely people, Cee and Kris. They were so generous and provided two tier inclusions (stickers and mini prints) for the event with Cee’s dreamy art. This hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m also collaborating with a friend of mine, Lauren, who is the owner of Soft Bloom Era and will be making small bouquets to give away to ARMY for free!
There’s so much I want to do, honestly. Festa celebrations are so exciting because we get to celebrate the boys. Everyone comes together, has a good laugh, exchanges jokes, and dances about. I think this Festa will be even more memorable with our boys coming back too. I feel we’ve been in a bit of a limbo since they went into service. I can’t wait for all seven to be back!
The tiers and freebies are always so carefully curated. What is your favourite aspect of putting them together, and how long does it take to create freebies, i.e., the cupsleeve banner itself?
Erica: My favourite aspect about putting the tiers and freebies together has to be the designing process. I’m incredibly picky, and I always try to stick to a theme with every inclusion. I want things to be cohesive and make sense. This time, I wanted to go floral. I made the ARMY membership PCS with the bouquets the basis and built everything else around that.
In terms of printing, I usually order them online, my least favourite aspect. You don’t know how it turned out until it reaches your door. I try to be cost-effective without sacrificing the quality. Photocards, for example. I don’t order them with rounded corners because they tend to be more expensive. Instead, I opt to round the corners myself with a corner cutter I bought.
The ID photos in the Blooming Dream Tier too – I had to order them as 4x6 photos and cut them all by hand! It took a lot of time; I had to do it in batches. I put a lot of love in, and I hope everyone can tell that when they receive their tiers.
You’ve gone beyond cupsleeve celebrations by running a collaboration with Pick Pic for the boys FESTA. Where they will run a 12-year BTS photo booth frame, firstly, how did the collaboration come together, and how does it feel to expand beyond just cupsleeves with something like this?
Erica: The collaboration with PickPic is something I’m very excited about! I actually stumbled into their Leicester Square site with a friend while out in central. I had been trying to come up with new exciting things I could incorporate into my event, so when I was there taking pictures, I figured I’d take the shot and ask them about a collaboration. They were keen and told me to reach out on social media, and it’s been made official!
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| Photo courtesy of Yoonkook Paradise |
A limited frame I designed will be available on the 15th at their Leicester Square site. I can’t wait to take pictures there too! It feels a bit surreal to expand in this way. It may not seem like much to others, but it’s definitely a big leap for me when I compare my first event to now. I’m really proud of myself, and I’m also incredibly grateful for my ARMY friends who always give me that push because they believe in me.
Let's touch briefly on BTS and your personal journey with them. How did you first discover them, and what was it that drew you in specifically?
Erica: I have to thank my secondary school friend for introducing me to BTS back in 2017. She had told me to watch a music video: Not Today. I got absolutely hooked. Yoongi really went “Not Today” with his pretty black hair, and that was it for me. I went through the dangerous “I just want to learn their names” thought process, and then I never looked back. They have been a very special part of my life ever since.
For those who perhaps are just starting to go down the rabbit hole or are simply intrigued, what album, in your opinion, is the best introduction and provides a small insight into them as artists?
Erika: I might be a bit biased when I say this, but Love Yourself is where it’s at for me. BTS are always conveying messages with their music and the stuff they put out, and the Love Yourself era was so healing, so positive. They even partnered with UNICEF. It’s my favourite comeback, my first comeback actually. I think it touched a lot of ARMY in times of need and continues to do so now even while the boys are away.
As the iconic Chapter Two era is seemingly coming to an end, how have you enjoyed this chapter, and which album has been the standout?
Erica: Well, with Yoongi being my bias, I think it’s fair to say the D-Day album. I just love everything he puts out. His music is always so raw, and I love how he experiments with beats and his rap. Amygdala. Let's leave it there, or I fear I won’t stop yapping. I love the boys’ solo work as much as their OT7 work. It’s so great to see their individual styles and vibes.
Finally, what would be the next goal in your creative journey?
Erica: I think, like a lot of small businesses, I hope to someday make this my full-time job. Doing something I love full-time instead of sneaking it into my free time between my actual full-time job feels like a dream. I want to branch out and experiment with more new things too. Host more events as well! I’m having so much fun doing those.
Be sure to follow Yoonkook Paradise here. Tickets for her 12 Years with BTS cupsleeve can be purchased here.