Retro Trends Coming Back in Style
Nostalgia has always been a powerful marketing force, and retro items often rank high in lists of trending products. In many cases, popular nostalgic products remind people of their youth, although sometimes the most enthusiastic adopters of retro fashions weren’t even born when the style was first popular. As a result, you have Millennials currently rediscovering the toys and styles of the 1990s, while popular products among Gen Z consumers hearken back to the seventies and eighties. Everything, as the old saying goes, is new again.
Retro items almost always make great gifts for target marketing. Promotional products that link brands to nostalgia offer high returns on investment and appeal to a broad demographic. With that in mind, here are some of the best new promotional gifts that hearken back to the past.
Trending Items from the 1990s
Jeans are always in style, although individual cuts of jeans rise and fall in popularity. About a year or two ago, it looked like slim, skinny cut jeans had completely supplanted the baggy, ultra-wide jeans of the 1990s. Then the pandemic hit and suddenly comfort became the paramount factor when buying clothing. The door was opened for a return to the baggy “mom jeans” of the nineties, and the style was rediscovered. Available in a wide range of colors and styles, including cargo, faded, and perforated, baggy jeans are often paired with heels, sneakers, and chunky boots. And if baggy jeans are back, can the denim jacket be far behind?
Other staples of the 1990s are making a reappearance. Gel pens and tamagotchis are cropping up again. Fanny packs are on the rise too, possibly because of another powerhouse in promotional products industry trends: PPE. A fanny pack makes it easy to transport spare masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, and other items that became indispensable during the pandemic.
Silk scarves are popular products right now too, either worn babushka-style or tied around the neck, hair, or torso. And while it can be argued they never went out of style, branded snapback baseball caps, dad hats, and beanies all help give a wardrobe that nineties look. Even the mullet haircut is making a comeback, but don’t tell Gen Z that — they call it the wolf cut.
What Products are in High Demand Right Now from the Eighties?
It seems like there’s always at least one or two popular products from the eighties coming back into vogue, although thankfully the big hair fad of the decade seems to be lying quietly in its grave. Bike shorts, ripped denim, and chunky sneakers are putting in appearances again, although the most popular eighties retro at the moment seems to be tie-dye. And we’re not just talking about clothing here: everything from bags and lanyards to water bottles and notebooks is getting the tie-dye treatment. It’s a great opportunity for any company with a playful, vibrant brand.
When it comes to accessories, the ubiquitous scrunchie ranks among the hottest promotional products industry trends right now, especially among Gen X and millennials. Customized scrunchies are especially popular among women’s sports teams and sororities.
Sometimes retro fashions surprise you. No-one, for instance, expected the sweat wristband to make a comeback, but with more people working from home while trying to stay active, this most eighties of accessories is enjoying a revival.
Top Trending Products with a 1970s Vibe
The 1970s gets a bad reputation when it comes to fashion, and if we’re being honest, that reputation is somewhat deserved. The fun aspect of retro fashion, however, is taking a dated concept and updating it with a modern twist. Flared pants are popular products right now, although they’re much subtler than the bell-bottoms of yesteryear. Puffy sleeves are back in, especially when paired with flared pants and high-waisted skirts.
The 2020 pandemic triggered a crocheting craze among Gen Zers, who took to Tik-Tok to show off their homemade bags, hats, blankets, and other crocheted items. Whether crocheted clothing will become as popular as it was in the 1970s is debatable, but the potential is there.
Choosing the Right Retro Products for Your Brand
Knowing what products are in high demand right now is only part of the equation when choosing the best new promotional gifts. You also need to match trending products to your brand image. A tie-dye notebook can offer a high ROI for a company specializing in youth items, but will give the wrong impression when handed out by a patent law firm. Watch promotional product industry trends with care, and select items based on how well they mesh with your brand identity, logo, brand colors, and fonts. Retro trending products aren’t for every brand, but when the right item is paired with the right brand, you can tap into your target demographic’s deep love of nostalgia.