It’s essentially a phenomenon that never fails to creep up on us year after year in the Halloween season. Something that completes Fall fashion in this age.
I’m talking about sweatshirts. Those comfy garments that have been steadily carving out their niche in the fashion scene now have an even bigger presence than before. Particularly when the season of spooks is close.
Back in the day, Halloween fashion meant slapping on a plastic mask and calling it a day. But over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a more refined transformation in Halloween attire. Patterns, prints, and thoughtful yet spooky designs have crept their way onto everyday wear, with sweatshirts and full zip-up hoodies being the most preferred canvases. There are only a few garments that can relay the moods and vibes of Halloween. Sweatshirts and hoodies are at the top of that list.
The Jack-o’-Lantern of All Trades
So how did sweatshirts become the go-to garment for Halloween fashion?
Versatility: Their versatility and usefulness in the season are obviously a factor. Sweatshirts can be dressed up, dressed down, or worn as pajamas. Because a blank sweatshirt has a lot of real estate, they can also accommodate prints, quotes and patterns. All you have to do is imbue some Halloween theme into the designs.
Comfort: A good sweatshirt always hits the spot in Fall weather. They make great layering pieces too.
Customization Potential: As mentioned before, blank sweatshirts to customize for Halloween are a decorator’s dream. From simple screen printing to elaborate embroidery, sweatshirts can take it all as long as the fabric is carefully chosen for the project.
Longevity: Unlike costumes, Halloween-themed sweatshirts can be worn throughout the fall season and beyond.
Design Trends We Saw Last Year
Retro-themed Sweatshirts & Hoodies: The 80s and 90s vibes were more prominent in last year’s Halloween in the USA. Vintage-inspired Halloween designs and neon color schemes were all the rage.
Dark Humor: Sweatshirts with puns and clever wordplay were flying off the shelves. There were a lot of cheesy ones like “You’ve got some ghoul” or “I’m here for the boos”.
Patterns: A lot of small-time decorators found success with sophisticated designs like tiny bats on one sleeve and spider webs around the neck, accompanied by uniquely positioned quotes. Sweatshirts with text on the cuff were also trending.
Why Retailers Should Bet On Sweatshirts
Extended Selling Season: Halloween sweatshirts start selling as early as September and can continue well into November.
Broad Appeal: Everyone loves a good Halloween sweatshirt or a hoodie.
Higher Profit Margins: Blank sweatshirts wholesale can be purchased at prices that can honestly surprise you. This means hefty markups when you sell them customized.
Repeat Sales: Halloween enthusiasts often collect multiple designs. Once they catch the bug, you can expect them to come back for more.
Social Media Gold: Quirky Halloween sweatshirts are incredibly shareable on social media. It’s free advertising for your store.
A Few Halloween Sweatshirt Outfit Ideas
- Midnight black, charcoal black…a shade of black sweatshirt with a gothic design on it, paired with distressed washed black denim.
- Pair a sweatshirt, a midi skirt, and ankle boots for a casually cool look. You can also wear the Halloween sweatshirt over a polo shirt.
- A black fuzzy sweatshirt (cropped sweatshirt works too) with an orange Halloween-themed design paired with orange checkered pants.
- Patterned oversized sweatshirt dress (go for any Fall color) and black ankle length lace up boots.
- Sleeveless front-open cardigan over a turtleneck sweatshirt with designs on sleeves, paired with denims.
- Patch-embroidered sweatshirts and baggy cargo pants, in contrasting colors.
You Can Get A Little Weird With The Customizations
The trend of Halloween sweatshirts won’t be slowing down for many more years. In fact, it’s evolving. We’re seeing more eco-friendly options, fluorescent designs, and even weird multi-patch embroidered patterns. For retailers, this means a little freedom to go wild with their design ideas. It’s Halloween after all. So there’s no such thing as “too much.” Feel free to stock those shelves with the wackiest, coziest sweatshirts you can find. But make sure to promote them.
There you have it. The whole scoop on Halloween sweatshirts and their influence in fall fashion. Happy selling, and may your profits make you smile throughout the holidays!