Spring is when brands start thinking about what’s next. Event season ramps up, campaigns launch, and fresh merch starts hitting desks, trade show booths, and influencer kits.
Our team has been scouting the latest products across the industry, looking for the pieces that feel new, relevant, and built to make brands stand out.
A few themes kept showing up again and again. Below are three trends heating up the merch world this spring.
One of the biggest style trends we are seeing right now is rope.
Thick cords, paracord straps, and braided wristlets are showing up across bags and accessories. The look sits somewhere between outdoor gear and streetwear, and it’s quickly becoming a go-to accessory style.
These accessories are hands-free, lightweight, and functional, which makes them perfect for travel, festivals, conferences, and everyday errands.
Design-wise, the rope detail also adds personality. Bright cords and adjustable knots give brands plenty of ways to customize the look.
The result? Accessories that feel fashion-forward and practical at the same time, which is exactly where merch is headed.
Another trend that is impossible to miss is technology that feels nostalgic.
Some of the standouts include:
Crosley Cruiser CD Player
Pac-Man™ Micro Player™ by My Arcade®
Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 Bundle
One of the clearest examples of this trend is the resurgence of instant photography. Cameras like the Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 combine classic instant film with simple point-and-shoot usability, producing photos that develop in minutes for that nostalgic, physical keepsake.
For brands, that makes these products perfect for experiential marketing, event activations, influencer kits, and more.
You may have noticed a certain type of bag popping up again and again: The Bogg style tote bag.
Originally popularized by beach-ready styles like Bogg Bags, these sturdy, waterproof totes are now showing up everywhere in the promotional space.
Brands are loving them because they’re durable, highly customizable, and instantly recognizable.
The result is a bag that feels fun, functional, and built for real life. When people carry a bag everywhere, the brand visibility goes with it.
The biggest takeaway is that merch is continuing to evolve beyond simple giveaways.
The products gaining traction right now share a few key traits: They're useful, designed well, and feel culturally relevant. That’s when merch stops feeling like swag and starts feeling like something worth keeping.
Our team walked the show floor at the PPAI Expo in January and curated a Best of Show collection featuring products across all of these three trends.
If you're planning an event, activation, or campaign this year, this collection is a great place to start.