30 YEARS OF HARDCORE: THE SPRAY CAN THAT CHANGED GRAFFITI

We couldn't let 2026 come to an end without celebrating another milestone anniversary: that of the Hardcore spray can. Created two years after the founding of MTN, it is the aerosol that helped standardize the 400 ml format within the European graffiti scene.

When 200 ml Was the Standard

To understand the role Hardcore played in the history of European graffiti, it is essential to understand the context of the time. Montana Colors was born in Barcelona at a moment when much of the paint available to graffiti writers came in 200 ml aerosol cans. That is why the first spray can produced by the brand adopted this format, which is considered small by today's standards.

By the mid-1990s, 200 ml cans were still a common reference within the Spanish graffiti scene. However, the growth of graffiti and the need to paint faster and more efficiently paved the way for a new standard.

The Birth of Hardcore

In 1996, Montana Colors decided to introduce a high-pressure 400 ml aerosol, a combination that was unusual at the time and designed to provide a much faster and more powerful painting experience.

"Hardcore" was precisely the word that best captured the feeling of its paint output.

What many people do not know is that the first 400 ml Hardcore aerosols featured a male valve system inherited from the 200 ml sprays. The reason was simple: Montana's stock of caps was designed for that system. Later on, the design evolved into the configuration that would eventually become the industry standard.

• In this feature, you can dive much deeper into the history of Hardcore.

Thirty Years Later

Three decades later, 400 ml cans have become the standard format in graffiti. However, Hardcore has achieved something even more difficult: it has transcended its status as a product to become a symbol recognized by several generations of writers.

From the late 1990s to the present day, Hardcore has accompanied the evolution of graffiti and remained linked to some of its most iconic moments.

That is why we did not want to let this important anniversary pass unnoticed, even if it arrived during the final stretch of the year.

The Return of the White Hardcore

During Hardcore's first decade, several designs were released that have since become highly sought-after pieces among spray can collectors. Among them, the white and silver versions stand out in particular.

To commemorate this anniversary, we decided to bring back the white design. A rare edition highly appreciated by collectors and enthusiasts, allowing us to recover a small piece of MTN's visual history.

A Tribute to Spray Can Collecting Culture

The importance that collectors have given to these historic aerosols was precisely the starting point for the launch campaign.

To announce the return of the White Hardcore, we produced a short documentary accompanied by a teaser reel for social media. Both pieces feature two of Barcelona's most iconic spray can collectors, who provide context and help explain the historical value of these editions.

A Capsule Inspired by the 1990s

The tribute to Hardcore went beyond the aerosol itself. To accompany the launch, we developed a garment specifically designed for the occasion: the Hardcore 30 sweatshirt.

The campaign was built around an analogue photo shoot designed to recapture the aesthetics and nostalgia of the 1990s. To reinforce this visual identity, a wildstyle graffiti piece was painted, the models were styled in period clothing, and interventions inspired by the presence that several historic writers left on the streets during those years were recreated.

Celebration at MTN SHOP Barcelona

To bring the anniversary into the physical world, we organized a celebration at MTN SHOP Barcelona, where historic aerosols from the MTN collection were exhibited alongside vintage advertisements and graphic materials from different eras.

Internally, the celebration also reached the factory and offices. Hardcore-themed cakes were shared with employees, and a quiz competition was held, with several commemorative sweatshirts given away as prizes.

Few products can claim to have accompanied the evolution of graffiti for three decades. From its early years as an innovative proposal to becoming an internationally recognized icon, Hardcore has been much more than an aerosol: it has become part of the history of the movement.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary is not only about remembering a product, but also about recognizing the cultural legacy it has left on thousands of writers and on the evolution of contemporary graffiti.