About Metal the Brand

Michael O. Wieclaw AKA Metal is an apparel and product designer among other things based in the weird and wonderful Albuquerque, New Mexico. Beginning with a successful Kickstarter in 2012, Wieclaw's brand Metal The Brand (MTB) grew as a pop-up shop at local farmers markets in the Albuquerque area. With hard work and time, he has created a successful Southwest regional brand. Wieclaw is known in the national sticker community for his work but more specifically his maggot stickers. "For me the maggot represents self cleansing from the venom and toxicity in life," says Wieclaw. Professional highlights have been designing and printing for the popular shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, designing merchandise for Huey Lewis and the News, mural at the Coachella Valley Music Festival Record Store in 2015 and creating the home of the Maggot Pit. Maggot pit?!? That's right, Wieclaw's retail store called Metal The Store located at the historic Route 66 landmark the El Vado Motel has an 100 sqft immersive art ball pit of maggots where patrons may bathe in decay from the infection in their lives. The other highlight to the store is the free sticker tree. Its ALWAYS in bloom. "For me, when creating art it has to be fun, have soul and invoke positive experience. It's not about selling a garment or sticker, it's about making a compelling piece of work that makes the owner want to talk about it and their adventure to find it."Read their story