Adaptation breeds innovation, and innovation always brings people to the table. With 2025 in full view, brand owners and apparel designers will need to latch onto new trends for the upcoming spring season. Starting your own apparel brand this year? Take a look at the top trending aesthetics in 2025 with Shirtual’s design team.
A lot of 2024’s previous trends were defined by technological innovations, including developments in the metaverse and artificial intelligence. While this will likely still be the case in 2025, there’s been a rise in more mindful marketing and apparel, with more textures and wilder colors. For example–
- Maximalism: The Gaudier, the Better
Minimalism has been the guiding aesthetic of the 2010s-2020s–for better or worse. In 2023, most apparel lines stuck to the principle of ‘less is more’. Less colors, less textures, less saturation, and more emphasis on the purpose of each aesthetic choice in an outfit.
In the past few years, though, young people have been biting back against the plain drudgery of minimalist design, reinvigorating the concept of maximalism. More is more–more clutter is a sign of more heart, more soul, more artistic flourish that the world so often lacks.
The great thing about this trend is that it’s bringing back bold and in-your-face apparel in a big way. If you’ve been selling plain tees or basic hoodies with minimalist graphics, consider shifting to more eclectic items with experimental prints. You can check out Flying Apple’s vintage maximalist collection for ideas; overarching patterns, wild colors, all sorts of shapes, and silhouettes.
Sewing or printing new maximalist designs can be difficult, especially if you’re only working with limited print-on-demand services. For more flexibility in custom sewing and prints, check out Shirtual’s merchandising options.
- Back to Nature: Earth and Sustainability Ethics
Fast fashion and the rapid development of apparel have caused a lot of inflated wardrobes and wasted clothes. The sustainability movement has made great leaps to change this, prioritizing upcycling clothes or reinvigorating old apparel to serve new purposes.
This presents an interesting opportunity to revitalize the old inventory you may have saved up now. Old denim jeans can be turned into hats or other accessories, old shirts can be restyled with different collars or sleeves, and other forms of ‘shabby’ but earthen styles may become great trending aesthetics in 2025.
Another thing to consider is where you’re sourcing these fabrics. Prioritizing eco-friendly clothing manufacturers with good track records on organic material, labor compensation, and low carbon emissions makes for a great impact on the environment–and a good marketing image.
- Corporate Apparel: A Day in the Office
Remote work and the rise of tech-invested spaces have made corporate apparel far more flexible and unique than it was before. As such, even if you’re not selling suits or oxford shoes, you’ll still be able to capitalize on casual corporate trending aesthetics in 2025.
What options have been popular in the past year? Surprisingly, the options tend to be rather relaxed, as we discussed in our corporate apparel guide. All-purpose protective items like jackets and handbags are all the rage, while smaller accessories like enamel pins are great for those looking to present their individuality in the workspace.
Unlike the maxim of maximalism, however, corporate apparel still tends to be on the minimalist side. If you’re planning to stock up on corporate apparel for your shop, be sure to limit the graphic designs and keep them appropriate for any scenario.
- Athletic Achievement: Jerseys, Varsity Jackets, Sports
The Olympics returned in 2024 and we’re still feeling the iconic triumphs of sportswear to this day. As a result, there’ll be more of a clamor for typical athletic wear inspired by the previous year’s star-studded sportscasts, fueling even more hype for future sports events in the future.
Luckily, the athletic apparel scene is wide and diverse, making it incredibly easy to make a new line to fit almost any apparel branding. More on the casual apparel side? Try out jerseys with sports number prints, similar to basketball, baseball, or soccer uniforms. Thinking of creating a new line for college students? Pick up a varsity jacket and print some sports script graphics on the back.
You can also capitalize on much more universal sportswear, like sweatshirts for various teams. These can be used in almost any context–after exercising, during a run, in the middle of a trip, or even just to leisurely show team spirit. They also make great merchandise for institutions like schools and companies.
- Shorts Summer: Beating the Heat in Style
The 2020s are looking to have some of the warmest weather the world has seen in decades. Whether you’re based in America, Europe, or Asia, you’ll likely find an audience clamoring for new outfits to help beat the heat this coming 2025.
Shorts are an underrated set of apparel, but they’ll likely make a big splash with the coming heat waves. You can make them short or over-the-knees but breathable, though the emphasis should be on comfort and ease of use. Printing or embroidering small graphics near the hems can also be a great way to emphasize your branding.
You’ll also find a lot of demand for comfortable caps and hats to keep people’s heads out of the sun. These are small but flexible accessories that you can customize to suit whatever merchandising needs you desire–however, consider prioritizing embroidery over prints in this case. They last longer and look more stylish over time.
The next year is shaping up to be an eventful time for the world as a whole, and all of it will be reflected in trending aesthetics in 2025. While adaptation is important, quickly innovating and creating new lines for these trends can take a lot on your manufacturing and production costs.
If you’re looking for a quick way to make new apparel lines without the usual hassle of roadmapping production, check out Shirtual’s one-stop solutions and services. You can focus on your new designs and branding plans in 2025–let us handle the rest.
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