Anya Parkes is a fan of two things: K-pop and Publix sub sandwiches.<\/p>\n
So when BTS announced that the U.S. dates of their world tour would kick off in Florida at Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa-area woman decided to combine both into one design.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the concerts this weekend, Parkes created stickers and keychains depicting a different type of BTS \u2014 or \u201cBuffalo Tender Sandwich\u201d \u2014 from a certain southern grocery store chain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started seeing a lot of people doing things specifically inspired about Florida,\u201d said Parkes, 28. \u201cI wanted to contribute to that, because I was born and raised in Florida, so I was like, \u2018What\u2019s more Florida than a Pub Sub?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a fitting design as BTS mania takes over Tampa. Fan-made merch is a staple at the many events popping up around the city<\/a>. Even the mayor has lit up buildings purple<\/a> in honor of the band\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n While Parkes runs an Etsy store called Bora Namu to sell her designs, she decided to give the sub stickers out for free.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t put them online yet, because for legal reasons, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m allowed to,\u201d she said, noting that it\u2019s also just fun to give out gifts to fellow members of BTS Army, the name of the group\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n Parkes made 300 stickers and 100 keychains, intending to pass them out during each of the three Tampa concerts.<\/p>\n When she posted on her Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> pages last week, the design took off.<\/p>\n Her posts have amassed over 50,000 views so far, plus a flood of direct messages from Florida BTS fans.<\/p>\n Want your own? Keep an eye out on Parkes\u2019 social media (@bora.namu) to see where she\u2019ll be passing out the free merch.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope this encourages BTS to come back to Florida,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n