In 2025, women’s fashion choices will focus on versatility, comfort, oversize fit and heavy weight. Other 2025 buzzwords will include sustainability, vintage and gender neutrality and inclusivity.
This unisex classic
mid-weight hoodie is
spun from premium 3-end fleece, making it soft and prime for DTG printing. Photo courtesy
of Lane Seven
Fashion Influences
Women drive many household purchasing decisions, even those marketed to men, and when it comes to the fashion industry especially, women are also influencers and trendsetters.
“It’s funny, because I always tell people that to find out the trends, you should always look at the younger generation. They are the ones that find the trends, put them on social media, and then the mainstream catches on and those take off. The first to wear something used to be on the fashion runways. Now you just have to look to see what the younger [people] are wearing, and within a year, they will be everywhere,” said Andi Goeing, product marketer and content strategist with SS Activewear.
Fashion trends in womenswear are also influenced heavily by the music industry, particularly those artists favored by Gen Z, Gen Alpha and even younger millennials. Think Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, BLACKPINK, Taylor Swift, SZA and more.
At the same time, it is generally agreed that trends predominantly deriving from Gen Z, do not take into account how more mature generations also influence trends. In other words, all demographics of women and all age groups have a say. Not only that, but with headwear, Jeremy Laney, president of Infinity Product Group, said men’s headwear trends are even encroaching in the women’s space. “We look across and see what is trending in men’s and adopting and adapting that to women’s headwear,” he said.
Beyond that, elevated basics and comfort-driven silhouettes serve as the foundation for workwear-influenced styles, which will also be trending. “Influenced by the ‘utility’ trend, workwear-inspired promo items like chore jackets, utility vests and cargo pants are emerging as stylish yet functional choices. These pieces are popular in industries where practical apparel is needed, but they also appeal as fashionable and unique items that can work beyond the workplace,” said Goeing.
“Womenswear styles are being modernized for both work and play. We’re combining comfort with functionality by leveraging fabrics with stretch, softness and easy care,” agreed Amy Carton, director of merchandising and brand management, SanMar.
Eco-friendly Options
Continuing a longstanding trend, many companies increasingly use organic or recycled materials, or materials that are carbon neutral. “When corporate values change to put sustainability at the forefront, consumers tend to align themselves with these brands in a deeper way,” said Mel Lay, marketing director and co-founder, Allmade Apparel.
In previous years, perhaps making eco-conscious buying choices was a luxury for many consumers because products made in a sustainable much were more expensive. And while that is still true, the tide is now turning, with manufacturers able to incorporate sustainability practices into their production facilities with greater ease and less expense. As a result, while sustainability may not be fully mainstream just yet, with the passage of time it is becoming more the standard in manufacturing, in direct response to growing consumer demand.
Milissa Gibson, sales director with Lane Seven Apparel, noted that as environmentally friendly practices become more widespread in manufacturing, that in turn reduces the costs of manufacturing in a sustainable way. Companies can then pass along these savings to the consumer, which both helps the environment and serves to elevate trust between the consumer and the producer.
Transparency in Sourcing, Production
Complementing the growing emphasis on sustainability is the demand for transparency throughout the supply chain, from how and where cotton is sourced and grown to whether the apparel is ethically made to whether it is delivered in a recyclable bag: all stages of the production process are increasingly highlighted on social media, putting consumers in a better position to hold companies accountable.
“We are updating our omni channel messaging to share more about our sustainable raw materials and the production process. The consumer wants what they wear to represent their values,” said Glen Brumer, sales director with Royal Apparel, describing his company’s efforts in this area.
Along these same lines, Gibson note, “Women tend to be more conscientious buyers overall, because they are the ones that drive a lot of purchasing decisions.”
“To me, it’s more of a ‘once you know, you can’t go back’ situation…transparency is key. Once that became a trend, people don’t want to close their eyes. They want to know they are getting product from a reliable source,” said Ramona Watson, vice president of product development/marketing with Infinity Product Group.
Which is not to say consumers have to compromise on quality as they are doing so. Infinity Product Group, for example, includes a division called Infinity Her, which manufactures baseball caps specifically designed for women, featuring an opening for a ponytail and a make-up resistant, wicking sweatband that is breathable.
Colors
For womenswear in 2025, neutrals continue to dominate, but more vivid tones are finding their way into the market as well, with a cornucopia of colors expected. Experts say vibrant hues, like pinks and oranges, in particular, will dominate. “As 2024 ends, we are seeing an end to ‘tone on tone’ looks. The days of natural tops paired with natural sweats are over, and color is back in the spotlight. Neons and brights will be back in the forefront. ‘Neon Pop’ or ‘Color Revival’ are the buzzwords to look out for,” said Lay.
The Tess style offers a trendy, modern take on your traditional mesh cap. Photo courtesy of Infinity Her
Brumer added that not just bright hues but contrasting color combinations are expected to be popular. “We are also seeing classic shades that are seasonless: navy, natural, grays and black. We introduced a new garment dye program where brands can customize their own color,” he said, describing his company’s efforts to accommodate customers seeking out unique looks.
Goeing agreed that neutrals—such as tans, whites, blacks, dark browns, and beiges—will be trending, along with darker red shades, such as maroon. However, she predicted that leopard print is going to be huge in 2025, particularly, muted, monochromatic leopard prints, as she is seeing that all over social media.
“In 2025, leopard print makes a sophisticated comeback with muted, monochromatic tones. Rather than bold, high-contrast colors, many designers are exploring muted versions of leopard print, like tone-on-tone neutrals or monochromatic color schemes, for example, shades of beige, soft grays, and off-whites,” she said.
In addition, other animal prints, like cow and zebra, will be dominant. “It has really become more of a staple than a fashion,” said Watson. “Camo will be everywhere. We saw it peak a few years ago, that generic fashion camo, and we are predicting that it will be back in a big way,” she added.
Laney agreed, adding that other patterns will be blended into camo. “It’s mixed media camo. It will be incorporating other elements, such as stars and flowers,” Laney said.
“In 2025, we are still embracing office-ready neutral colors with black, rich navy and a range of white to off-white as an essential base. However, earthy colors are emerging as a new complement, beautiful shades of green from sage to mint and olive, sienna, rust, dusty purples, and rich tones of brown and tan. These fresh updates are approachable and easily elevate your wardrobe for the season,” said Carton.
Silhouette
Some industry experts noted that gender-neutral styles and gender-neutral inclusive sizing is also trending. “To accommodate diverse audiences, promotional apparel is expanding its focus on gender-neutral styles and inclusive sizing. Relaxed fits, unisex designs and a broader range of sizes make branded apparel accessible to more people, enhancing its appeal and utility,” Goeing said.
This unisex classic mid-weight crewneck is crafted in a plush, textured knit and features ribbed cuffs, and waistband. Photo courtesy of Lane Seven
Lay agreed that gender inclusivity is also influencing womenswear trends in 2025. “You will start to see more gender-neutral fits and styling that consists of both typical pieces styled by men mixed with fitted feminine elements,” she said.
“We are definitely in a maximalist era. Think Carrie Bradshaw in ‘Sex in The City.’ More is more in 2025: layering and bold looks are in our future. You will see more experiments and individuality with styling,” Lay added.
Similarly, Gibson said she’s seeing a kind of diversification or split between a minimalist versus maximalist era. “Either they are tight and fitted, like the ‘90s Bibi tank, or super oversized and relaxed.”
As for Goeing, she noted oversized styles are increasingly popular overall, not just because people are buying bigger sizes, but the sweatshirts and silhouettes are actually larger.
“The oversized trend in 2025 reflects a shift toward comfort and high-impact branding in the imprintable apparel market. Larger, relaxed-fit items like oversized hoodies, T-shirts, and crewnecks provide ample space for logos and custom designs, creating memorable brand visibility. These pieces are especially appealing as they offer a universal, unisex fit, making them versatile to a wide audience,” she said.
On a side note, according to Goeing, this ties in a bit to athleisure, which she said predates the pandemic but has skyrocketed after Covid, with more and more brands coming out.
“Athleisure still reigns supreme and is not going anywhere, but it has gone from working out to wearing it to work on the weekends, to running errands. Wearing it out has become such the norm attire,” she said. Because people can work from anywhere, this parallels the trend of women wanting elevated basics and comfort-driven silhouettes.
“These items come with a strong focus on moisture-wicking, quick-dry, and odor-resistant fabrics. Branded items like joggers, zip-up jackets, and moisture-wicking polos offer comfort and practicality, especially for outdoor events, team-building activities and corporate wellness initiatives,” Goeing added.
“Spring 2025 will usher in a move toward new-bohemian and romantic silhouettes. From SanMar, you’ll see this come through in soft sleeve shapes, subtle shirring details and feminine necklines,” said Carton.
Fabric Blends and Textures
Cotton, especially organic cotton, is going to be popular, which is consistent with the previously mentioned sustainability trend. Brumer noted that RPET blends (recycled polyethylene terephthalate), made from recycled plastics and other materials that are blended with organic cotton, are growing in popularity as well. Other fabric blends include organic cotton blended with viscose bamboo and tri-blends.
The Weekend Boxy Crop is not only comfortable but ideal for all embellishing needs. Photo courtesy of Royal Apparel
“Subtle textural interest is a common theme when we look at 2025 styling. From fine linear ottomans to sub-fabrications, baby ripstop, and oxford piques, we’ve injected playful textures to give new dimension to core silhouettes,” said Carton.
Gibson said that ribbed and micro-ribbed are the textures that will be popular in 2025. She added that fashion choices are more about fit and weight versus fabric, and next year there will be an emphasis on heavyweight.
Goeing agreed, predicting heavyweight styles have been and will continue to be huge. “Almost every single main brand we carry has a heavyweight style,” Goeing said. This ties in to customers seeking durability and comfort in what they wear. She also noted that these types of heavyweight pieces, like hoodies, sweatshirts, and oversized Ts, are inspired by streetstyle and skate culture.
Beyond that, Watson said corduroy is going to be a dominant texture. “We’ve seen it across the board. If you pair it with a mesh back, it makes it a year-round fabric. It used to be a fall holiday fabric but now it’s a trend.”
Other trends are tech-integrated fabrics and smart fashion, like mosquito repellants built into the fabric or those that provide UV protection or have antimicrobial properties.
Vintage/Retro
The ‘90s are back in vogue and appear to be an ageless decade, as the ‘90s retro look seems to be hanging on. “That means butterflies, big prints and low-rise jeans,” said Lay.
Vintage black, or faded black will be dominant, which also ties into that neutral trend, added Gibson.
Other vintage-inspired trends over the past few years, which will still be present in 2025, include bomber jackets, old vintage T-shirts, and ringer T-shirts. “I was at a street festival in downtown Chicago, and every single vendor had vintage T-shirts; some people were paying $100 for them,” said Goeing. The buyers for these vintage styles are often Gen Z, who are, of course, the primary trendsetters.
A Demand for Quality
On the downside, as we get deeper into 2025, some companies will likely start to see a downslide to today’s trends, among them, fast fashion and lower-quality garments. “Consumers would rather thrift an item than buy a low-quality, poorly made, cheap piece of clothing. Women will be searching for staples that last in their closets instead of the one-time wear,” said Lay.
Another thing that is waning is the “retail fit” T-shirt, which Gibson described as being akin to a lightweight fitted unisex T, in light of the ongoing transition to an oversized, relaxed fit and heavier weights.
That said, overall, trends are slowing down, observed Goeing. “Much of what we have been seeing have been trending; people are slowing down and making trend last longer, which is better for the consumer, because there is less that you have to buy.”
Hilary Daninhirsch is an award-winning freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. Her work has been featured in a number of lifestyle and trade magazines. She can be reached at [email protected] or hilarydaninhirsch.journoportfolio.com.
