With more than 92 million buyers and 7 million sellers worldwide, Etsy’s global marketplace has a thriving community — with a huge variety of interests and behaviors that the company says will shape the trends of the coming season. In its first guide to spring and summer trends, Etsy used its data across key categories and pulled out nine trends that stood out.
Etsy’s marketplace was created to make it easy for shoppers to find communities within, which fuels trends as users find unique items created by like-minded people. Dana Isom Johnson, Etsy’s resident trends expert, told WWD that among the endless communities that have found a place on Etsy, four that have been gaining popularity lately are micro-trend hunters, vintage hunters, wedding planners and parents of Pets.
She explained that micro-trend scouts look for sellers who are quick to respond to viral pop culture moments—often ahead of even traditional retailers in the market—and even shape the way fans engage with their favorite celebrities. Vintage seekers, meanwhile, look to sellers who have become vintage enthusiasts, offering a curated collection of original and unique items. In contrast, both wedding planners and pet parenting communities on Etsy are looking for personalized options. All promote a sense of belonging to close-knit groups.
Of Etsy’s trends report, Johnson said the company’s data provided “the best overview yet of the aesthetic themes and pop culture influences—from screens and music charts to current events—shaping consumer shopping habits this season.” Besides she praised Etsy’s community of creators for their vibrancy and foresight to shape trends even before they hit the mass market.
Dayna Isom Johnson, Trend Expert at Etsy.
“With the freedom to experiment, innovate and adapt in real time, our vendors create and curate fresh designs to stay ahead of the cultural curve through their unique and often one-of-a-kind finds,” said Johnson. “And with a wide range of original items to discover at every price point, shoppers can find high-quality, modern items to suit their style and budget. So whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for an extra-special gift, read on for the hottest trends ready to pop this season.”
Etsy’s first trend, called the chef’s kiss, looks at the culinary world’s recent rise in the cultural zeitgeist, inspired by TV shows like The Bear and famous chefs who have become household names. Johnston said the “chef’s kiss” trend is the new iteration of dopamine dressing, and he expects the decor to heat up even more. On Etsy, the trend is showing up in products including personalized aprons, favorite dish t-shirts, food-inspired prints on everything from pajamas to dish towels, and even food-shaped jewelry like pasta-shaped earrings. Compared to the previous year, Etsy saw a 981% increase in searches for “martini sweaters,” a 1,454% increase for “espresso martini candles,” and a 39% increase for “pasta prints.”
Etsy’s report also put the spotlight on the “Western 2.0” trend, which has seen increased interest, possibly due to country music’s recent move into the mainstream. Compared to the previous year on Esty, “cowboy or cowgirl hats” saw a 77% increase in searches, while searches for “horseshoes” increased by 428%, “western bags” increased by 102%, and “cowboy or cowboy boots ‘ have increased by 124 percent.
As tennis and pickleball continue to gain popularity, especially during the summer months, the third trend in Etsy’s spotlight is “sports core.” On Etsy, users are searching for hobby sports, with a 41% increase in searches for “boat bags,” a 2,159% increase in searches for “lawn games,” and a 49% increase in searches for “retro jerseys” over the previous year.
Etsy’s “garden girl” trend also speaks to the season with consumers looking for new ways to incorporate nature into items like jewelry, clothing, home decor and accessories. On a year-over-year basis, the company’s data found a 390% increase in searches for “garden accessories,” a 150% increase for “flower jewelry,” a 231% increase for “garden blankets,” and a 26% increase for “woven bags.” Johnson said that for the “garden girl,” linens will also be favored for clothing, aprons and bedding.
Likewise, the fifth trend in Etsy’s report, “time-honored textiles,” shows the continued growth of consumer desire for quality items with handmade elements. The trend leverages the power of Etsy’s crafting community with top searches for the trend including a 41% increase in searches for “knitted items”, a 38% increase in “quilted cardigans” and a 26% increase in “knitted or knitted bandanas” for the year over a year.
Within the home decor category, Etsy’s report highlights the “rom-com interiors” trend, where nostalgia for 1990s and 2000s aesthetics is brought into living spaces through “cozy homewares,” “gifts for lovers of books,” “colorful rugs,” and “pendant lamps.”
The last three trends, “trendy milestones,” “creative couple portraits,” and “all-out after parties,” showed an increase in consumers’ desire to increase the celebration of special moments. Within these trends, Etsy searches included “personalized or personalized gifts” with a 175 percent increase, “personalized or personalized playing cards” with a 141 percent increase, and “wedding party decor” with a 195 percent year-over-year increase.
Johnson advised creators who want to meet trending consumers to stay current on Etsy’s Editors’ Picks pages, monitor social media, stay authentic and mobilize quickly. She also encouraged creatives to continue setting trends. “I’ve seen so many amazing trends come directly from Etsy sellers, so if you feel like you’ve found the latest ‘It’ thing, don’t be afraid to take advantage of it.”
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