Fall 2025 trend predictions: merch that’ll be everywhere this season

It’s been a hot summer, and if you’re already dreaming of cooler mornings, cozy layers, and that first PSL of the year, you’re not alone. Fall brings a shift in mood – and with it, a chance to re-engage your community with merch that feels seasonally on point.

While we’re still a few months out from fall 2025, now’s the time to get ahead by researching what’s trending, finding the right merch partners, and getting designs into production before trade shows and conferences start ramping back up in the new season.

From tactile textures to nostalgic add-ons to merch that doubles as comfort food for the soul, we’ve rounded up the biggest fall 2025 trends worth keeping on your radar.

Accessories for accessories

Bag charms are having a moment. Pop Mart, the toy firm behind Labubu plush charms, for example, has seen its revenues triple for the first six months of this year, driven by blind-box collectibles that now command cult-like status. 

What might’ve once seemed like fringe fandom is now fueling a broader merch shift, especially as Gen Z continues to embrace personalization as a form of self-expression. This fall, expect merch that plays into the accessories-for-accessories mindset to surge, particularly those in layered, collectible formats that invite interaction and individuality. 

We’re predicting:

• Blind-box drops: Sealed packaging that adds surprise and collectability, often themed by color, character, or mood. Think: plush keychains, mini pins, or fabric patches revealed at random.
• Curated pin or button bundles: Sets designed to be worn together – on hats, lanyards, or bags – rather than sold as one-offs. 
• In-person customization experiences: Last year, Adidas hosted a DIY 'Style Your Toe' pop-up event where customers could customize their new sneakers. For branded merch, the same idea applies: turn giveaways into a moment, like charm-attachment bars or heat-press setups for adding patches to hats and bags on the spot.

The takeaway? Fall merch is getting more interactive, collectible, and emotionally sticky. People don’t just want a tote – they want to build their version of it. Brands that lean into this mindset with layered, playfully designed drops will feel right on time.

Whether you're dreaming up a custom mascot plushie or a set of soft PVC bag charms shaped like your logo, we’ve got you. Wayo’s AI sourcing agent, Nory, can handle the manufacturing process from start to finish, so you don’t have to stay up all night WhatsApping factories to chase after samples. Start your custom project today.

Suede everything

Suede is quietly taking over fall merch. According to Google Trends, searches for suede fashion accessories peaked at the highest possible value in September 2024 and stayed elevated through the end of the year.

It’s not hard to see why. Suede feels warm, elevated, and a little nostalgic, perfect for the shift into fall. And unlike the flashiness of leather or the generic feel of canvas, it also offers a subtle sense of luxury without the high price tag. 

For fall 2025, we’re predicting a wave of suede merch, and not just in apparel – suede notebooks with subtle debossing, logo-stamped suede baseball caps, and textured suede tote bags. Expect fall’s signature muted earth tones like olive, rust, and camel, but also richer, bolder takes in jewel-inspired shades, like mustard or teal.

Comfort as core

Comfort is always a fall staple, but in 2025, it’s a form of self-soothing as well. As the world feels more chaotic from economic instability, climate anxiety, and political tension, comfort merch offers physical warmth and emotional relief in small, tangible ways.

Just Google “cozy core” and you'll find it applied to everything from TikTok-recommended video games to interior design mood boards. And brands are leaning in. Costco, for example, recently made headlines for releasing a line of yoga pants and soft zip-ups that look strikingly familiar to Lululemon’s much more expensive staples. 

In terms of fall 2025 trends, we’re predicting an uptick in tactile, sensory-forward merch, like 

• Branded crewnecks with extra-long sleeves and fleece-lined softness for that wearable-blanket feel
• Thick, warm socks that double as lounge essentials
• Velvety laptop sleeves that feel soft to the touch
• Fluffy travel blankets designed for desks, commutes, or curling up at home

Maximalist merch

When the economy feels uncertain, personal spending usually pulls back – fewer splurges, safer choices, and wardrobes that lean neutral and minimal. But merch doesn’t always follow the same rules.

Because it’s often gifted, subsidized by employers, or picked up on impulse, merch gets a kind of psychological hall pass. Even when people are in cutback mode, they’re still saying yes to expressive pieces that spark joy or signal identity. 

In fact, we’ve seen time and again that maximalism tends to thrive in moments of cultural tension, from post-recession streetwear booms to the bold, chaotic design of the early 2020s. It’s almost like a type of emotional rebellion – when the world feels heavy, people gravitate toward merch that feels light, fun, and a little bit extra.

That’s why we’re predicting the rise in maximalist merch as a fall 2025 trend. Expect to see brands lean into mixed textures, retro fonts, bold colorblocking, and layered designs that give people permission to play. For example, a software startup might offer a neon-striped fanny pack with a bold slogan, while a sustainable fashion brand might create upcycled tote bags with oversized, hand-drawn motifs.

Some of our favorite maximalist picks from the Wayo catalog include:

• Custom all-over-print mini bucket bag: With its ruched handle, detachable strap, and sublimation-friendly polyester surface, it’s made for statement-making. 
• Holographic die-cut stickers: Leaning into that retro vibe, these 4” stickers are a fun way to make even the simplest of designs more dynamic.
• Jacquard knit crew socks: These come in a soft cotton blend with the design woven directly into the knit, so no peeling or cracking down the line. 
• Full-color A5 softcover notebook: The softcover makes it lightweight and portable, but the full-color, edge-to-edge print gives you the freedom to get loud with the design.

Sustainable and upcycled merch

Earth tones are a perennial fall staple, and what better way to lean into that grounded, seasonal feel than with sustainable or upcycled merch? 

According to ASI’s 2024 Ad Impressions Study, 46% of consumers have a more favorable opinion of a brand that gives out environmentally friendly promotional products, and 42% say they keep eco-friendly items longer. At this point, sustainability is less of a fleeting trend and more of a growing core value, especially among younger audiences who are paying closer attention to materials, packaging, and whether a brand is actually walking the talk.

This fall, we’re expecting to see more brands connect the dots between cozy textures, natural palettes, and low-impact production – whether it’s a coffee cup made from recycled coffee grounds, a t-shirt made with renewable plant-based materials, or a cork cover notebook.

Use Wayo to get ahead of the fall 2025 trend cycle

Designing seasonal merch involves more than choosing the right color palettes or fabric swaps; brands and teams must consider how people want to feel. Whether that shows up in the form of a sherpa-lined hoodie, a pin-covered bag strap, or a suede pouch in burnt ochre, the best merch this season taps into both emotion and aesthetic. 

At Wayo, we help translate trends into tangible, high-impact merch people can hold, touch, and use. From rich textures to expressive accessories, our catalog is full of pieces that are aligned with fall 2025 trends.

And if you can’t find what you’re looking for? Just share your idea, and Nory, our AI sourcing agent, will help you bring it to life.