Independent retailers have been buying more nostalgic home-hosting items, cosy clothing and pastimes and layered romantic aesthetics during the second half of 2025, according to new research by online wholesale marketplace Faire.
The newly-released Faire Forecast, created by Faire in partnership with trend forecaster WGSN, examined thousands of product searches by the independent retailers using the platform globally to reveal the three biggest consumer trends expected to drive demand in the run up to Christmas. Faire has forged millions of connections between brands and retailers across the world and 70,000 independent retailers in the UK alone now use the platform to stock their shop.
‘The House Party’
Faire’s report found searches for fondues have increased by 277 per cent year-on-year, martini glasses nearly 150 per cent, mocktails 57 per cent, and cake trays 94 per cent, as retailers searched for and stocked up on playful party accessories and statement glassware for shoppers enjoying hosting more dinner parties at home.
‘The Great Indoors’
Searches for chunky knits are up also 200 per cent on Faire and fleece jackets 184 per cent, while board games also soared in popularity due to a growing preference for staying indoors and indulging in cosy hobbies, with a 138 per cent increase in search for Mahjong.
‘The New Romantics’
Meanwhile, lace shirt searches are up 163 per cent, ruffle sleeves 126 per cent, and charms 73 per cent, driven in part by the popularity of period dramas like Bridgerton and The Gilded Age.
The report follows on from Faire’s first Faire Forecast, released in January, which identified a spike in searches for dark, opulent décor, natural fibres like cotton and linen, and products that helped shoppers prepare for adventurous holidays and spontaneous trips away.
Charlotte Broadbent, UK general manager at Faire, said: “Our latest Faire Forecast shows how shopper priorities have evolved as 2025 has progressed. The trends we flagged at the start of the year are still here but they’ve evolved, with retailers using Faire to find products that help their customer build real-world connections, tap into a growing desire for affordable screen-free time and create a fresh, romantic and nostalgic aesthetic.
“Together they show exactly how retailers can build stronger loyalty and drive meaningful growth in the run up to the all-important Christmas shopping season.”
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