Key Icons Forecasted for S/S 2025

Spring/Summer 2025 will be a season of telling stories through design. However, retailers can focus on three main themes: Digitopia, Restorative Realms, and Common Connections. WGSN forecasts say these themes will help create creative and meaningful collections, whether retailers work with prints, stationery, or holiday decor. This guide highlights the key trends and ideas to help retailers make their products shine in 2025.

Table of Contents
A look at the key icons for different categories
    1. Print & pattern
    2. Mother’s & Father’s Day
    3. Stationery
    4. Easter
    5. Valentine’s Day
Wrapping up

A look at the key icons for different categories

1. Print & pattern

Prints and patterns are likely one of the biggest categories. After all, they influence the look and feel of any collection. However, S/S 2025 will see this category focus on three exciting themes, including peaceful nature, surreal futurism, and classic nostalgia. Here’s how each theme handles its design elements.

Digitopia

Surreal geometrics	This design element focuses on things that naturally catch the eye. Think mirrored shapes, playful light effects, and prism-like patterns. More importantly, surreal geometrics have some depth and movement that’s not common in other prints.
Playdough characters	This style is more about playful vibes with soft, freeform shapes. These abstract yet fun figures look amazing on textiles, stationery, and home decor designs.
Cartoon flowers	Oversized is still a huge trend. But cartoon flowers use oversized, simplified florals to evoke some childhood joy. Bright pastel colors or neon outlines also give them a bold, lively look.
Stylized architecture	Even classic elements are being overhauled with this style. Imagine columns and arches with bright, digitally enhanced colors and unexpected twists.
Fake food	Consumers looking for the perfect mix of nostalgia and humor will love this style’s hyper-realistic cupcakes, sandwiches, and donuts. It’s also a great design choice for quirky product lines.

Restorative realms

Tropical blooms	Want to capture the lush beauty of the tropics? This design offers oversized, detailed, exotic flower images that do exactly that.
Botanical leaves	Another way to create a nature-inspired vibe is to add realistic renderings of leaves (particularly ferns and monstera) to various products.
Mystical eyes	This design allows businesses to tap into folklore. Eye motifs are popular for their mystery and symbolism and pair well with intricate patterns.
Moon crescents	Some consumers love a dreamy, celestial feel. So, retailers can use sleek crescent moon designs, especially with scalloped edges or dotted details.
Fantastical wildlife	Designers can transform pretty jungle animals (like peacocks and tigers) into eye-catching patterns. It should be bright and imaginative enough to blend nature and fantasy.

Common connections

Coastal shells	Soft colors and detailed seashell illustrations are great ways to add a calm seaside charm to prints and patterns.
Woodland birds	If consumers want to evoke the nostalgic feel of classic storybooks, retailers can offer them delicate drawings of sparrows, wrens, and robins.
Heritage florals	Retailers can also reimagine timeless flowers like roses, daises, and tulips with antique, hand-painted looks—it will feel traditional and fresh.
Nautical geos	The coastal theme attracts many, and businesses can leverage it by offering bold geometric patterns inspired by maritime flags and ocean waves.
Scalloped borders	Repeating, romantic trims can add a vintage elegance to any design and are a great way to create texture.

2. Mother’s & Father’s Day

Mother’s and Father’s Day are for celebrating special people, so it makes sense that S/S 25 will focus more on versatile and cheerful icons. Here’s a closer look at what to expect.

Digitopia

Smiley faces	This celebratory holiday deserves all the smiles and optimism. Fun, cartoon smiley faces can bring that vibe to gifts like notebooks and mugs.
Cartoon florals	Sometimes, all gifts needed are a childlike charm to make recipients happy. So, retailers can consider using bright, bubbly flowers on textiles, cards, and gift wraps.
Cute characters	Since stationery appeals to ages, businesses can make them fit the occasion with simple, cheerful figures. It’s one way to add charm to home goods, too.

Restorative realms

Mystical birds	Some tropical flair is always good for home decor and stationery. That’s where exotic parrots, peacocks, and other colorful birds steal the show.
Crystals	Many consumers also like mindfulness themes, and gemstone and mineral-inspired patterns connect with them and even add a touch of elegance.
Hyper-insects	For something more universal, retailers can offer gifts with dragonfly and butterfly icons in bold, unexpected colors. It’s eye-catching and unique.

Common connections

Teapots & cups	One icon perfect for gifts is a classic tea set design. Consumers love the nostalgic feel of family gatherings they evoke.
Cottage florals	Businesses don’t even need to go all out sometimes. Simple flower motifs like daisies and wildflowers can easily capture the elegance of rural life for those who love it.
Decorative fish	Here’s something for Father’s Day: fun koi and goldfish designs. They add a symbolic, aquatic theme most men love.
Artisanal cats	Mother’s Day also has special icons. One unique option is playful, quirky cat designs that bring humor and charm.

3. Stationery

Are consumers tired of boring stationery items? S/S 25 promises a fun way to enjoy these products without losing their practicality. Here’s what to know about each theme:

Digitopia

Expressive eyes	Do consumers want to add personality to notebooks, planners, and desk accessories? Consider offering them simple cartoon-style eye designs.
Fake food	Retailers can bring a playful touch to cards and wrapping paper with bright, bold bagel, donut, or cupcake graphics.
Geometric prisms	Businesses can also give stationery a multidimensional shape with gradient colors or metallic finishes. Consumers will love the sleek, futuristic vibe.
Pop-art florals	Want to make envelopes, notebooks, and invitations more energetic? Add big, bold flowers in primary colors.

Restorative realms

Tropical leaves	Here’s a versatile design for different products. Businesses can add anything from banana leaves to palm fronds in imaginative and realistic colors.
Symbolic suns	This style offers some folklore inspiration with sun icons. It’s the best bet for adding warmth and hope, especially with details like rays and gentle color gradients.
Painterly florals	One way to combine artistic elegance with everyday practicality is to paint flowers with soft brushstrokes. This technique is perfect for journals and stationery.
Fantastical creatures	Consider dreamlike depictions of butterflies, moths, and exotic birds. It’s fantastic for making ordinary stationery items more magical.

Common connections

Monogrammed initials	Classic letter designs are perfect for adding personal touches to notebooks and stationery sets.
Retro florals	If consumers want a nostalgic feel, vintage-style flowers in soft, muted colors are the way to go.
Nautical flags	Retailers can opt for bold, geometric patterns inspired by maritime symbols to capture that bright, summery look.
Delicate frames	Consider giving cards and notepads an elegant, handmade feel with hand-drawn borders.
Antique ribbons	Another great idea is adding loops and bows for more charm on invitations and vintage-style stationery.

4. Easter

Remember the classic spring symbols of Easter? They are getting a makeover, transforming them into playful cartoon styles.

Digitopia

Cartoon rabbits	Retailers can give home decor, stationery, and soft goods a childlike twist by adopting simplified but cheerful bunny designs—but only in pastel colors.
Chubby carrots	Give gift wraps, tableware, or toys a more playful vibe using rounded, oversized carrot prints.
Speckled eggs	The blue robin’s egg is a classic easter symbol. However, businesses can update this familiar icon with modern twits with unique textures (like metallic speckles).
Candy floss nests	Soft, pastel-colored nests have a magical vibe, perfect for table settings and decorative pieces.
Geometric butterflies	Futuristic designs can go well with the classic spring vibe, especially if retailers use origami-inspired butterflies in bright colors and bold patterns.

Restorative realms

Painterly flowers	Try big, textured flowers. They are one of the best ways to showcase spring’s energy and the beauty of nature’s renewal.
Folkloric birds	Since spring is about renewal, symbolic birds (like doves) decorated with floral and folk-inspired details work beautifully for Easter cards and textiles.

Common connections

Shy bunnies	Kids love playful and nostalgic things. So, retailers can add cute, storybook-style rabbits hiding or peeking out to kids’ decor and art.
Tulip bouquets	Another perfect way to celebrate spring’s beauty and gift-giving traditions is with tulips in vases or on their motifs.
Garden veggies	Businesses can appeal to all ages using garden veggie motifs, like playful carrots, beets, and radishes. They especially appeal to consumers seeking a springtime farm theme.
New lovebirds	Fresh bird designs are perfect for Easter and Valentine’s Day, which works great for seasonal collections.

5. Valentine’s Day

The season of love is almost here again—so what can retailers expect for S/S 25? Motifs are definitely stealing the show this time—but they will be the perfect mix of boldness and nostalgia.

Digitopia

Digital hearts	Classic love symbols are great, but they’ll get a modern, tech-inspired twist this time. Think of hearts with glitch effects or layered colors.
Bold lips	If businesses want to express a more playful and unexpected touch, they can choose bold-colored oversized lip designs, like neon pink or deep purple.
Pop-art cupcakes	It may be the season of love, but designs with nostalgia and humor can also sell well. Hence, retailers can consider brightly decorated cupcakes with big frosting.
Bubble flowers	Chunky, cartoon-style flowers are perfect for creating an optimistic and cheerful vibe for Valentine’s themes.
Vivid lipsticks	Using simple, bold illustrations of lipstick tubes can make designs more fun and glamorous.

Restorative realms

Layered florals	The classic big roses and texture flowers haven’t lost their charm. They are still a great way to include romantic and timeless vibes.
Butterfly icons	Pastel butterflies, especially those paired with vines, can easily create soft and dreamy patterns for Valentine’s.
Folkloric suns	Businesses can use intricate sun designs with celestial details and rays to make their Valentine’s products more magical and mystical/
Orchid blooms	One can never go wrong with floral designs. That’s why this icon stands out, thanks to artistic orchids making bold, luxurious statements.
Soft hearts	Hearts with gentle brushstrokes or layered effects will easily make products or packaging feel tender and romantic.

Common connections

Hand-drawn cherubs	Sketchy, playful cherubs can easily add a mix of innocence and humor.
Vintage roses	Businesses can offer a more classic, romantic feel with deep-colored roses featuring metallic touches.
Doily hearts	Here’s something different: scalloped-edge hearts are a great way to blend retro charm with modern styles.
Jam jar motifs	Strawberries and cherries in jars will appeal to consumers who love a cozy, countryside vibe.
Lovebirds	Simple, sweet bird designs symbolize love and partnership, making it perfect for various products.

Wrapping up

Spring/summer 2025 looks promising already, offering retailers many opportunities to transform their collections. Business buyers can create collections that connect with customers by mixing playful designs, calming nature themes, and nostalgic touches. So, don’t hesitate to explore these ideas, try bold combinations, and tell fresh, exciting stories through these inspiring trends.