Dear Brands That Like to Set Trends
Here’s what 2026 looks like for custom-branded products.
First, our credentials. At Good Things, our team scours the earth for amazing products so you don’t have to. We visit gifting trade shows worldwide, including Reed, PPAI, and ASI Chicago, to keep our finger on the pulse of what’s working, what’s resonating, and what’s gaining momentum.
Now, we aren’t about mindlessly following trends, nor do we endorse it. We like to spot them, adapt them, and help our partners create products that don’t just keep up but lead.
If that sounds like your brand, welcome to your 2026 Custom Branded Product Playbook.
Our 2026 Custom Product Trend Predictions
Based on what we’ve seen in 2025, bold colour blocking and rich, layered textures are set to define branded products in 2026.
Colour Blocking: From a Fun Extra to Brand Essential
Colour blocking is moving from a playful detail to a core brand tool. It’s an easy way for merchandise to stand out in fast-scrolling feeds and spark an instant reaction. Minimal bases with vibrant blocks and bold typography were key in 2025, and that momentum is only building.
Textured Designs: Adding a Touch of Tactility
Our creative team is excited about how textures and materials are adding a tactile dimension to custom products. Some of the highlights include:
- Matte & Gloss Finishes
- Embossed & Debossed Details
- Mixed Materials
The Custom Products That’ll Define 2026
Custom Water Bottles
- Transparent Bottles: Customers can see their H₂O and your branding alike.
- Mini Hydro Style: Perfect for on-the-go moments. Cute, portable, and fits in any bag.
- Wide Bottles: Skinny bottles, step aside. Wide bottles will be making a statement on desks, in gym bags, and everywhere in between.
- Metallic Finishes: We’re looking at you, beauty brands. Make your custom products shine just like your offerings.
- Soft-Touch & Curved Designs: Ergonomic bottles with soft-touch coatings and curved shapes feel as good as they look.
Custom Accessories
- Custom Air Fresheners: Let your brand proudly hang in every car. The possibilities are endless, think brand mascots, logos, fun shapes, truly anything goes.
- Jibbitz (Croc Charms): Take a walk on the wild side with croc charms, which have quickly become collectibles. Will your brand be next?
- Ear Flap Caps: Not all of us are bucket hat and wide-brim people. You can be trendy, functional, and protect your ears and neck from the Aussie sun without losing the cap.
- Puffer Scarves: Snug, practical, and perfect for winter. Once it’s wrapped around your neck, you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life.
- Hooded Scarves: Why try to coordinate a beanie and a scarf when you can combine them into one cozy piece? Next time there’s an Antarctic breeze, you’ll be ready.
Shapes & Finishes to Watch
- Two-Tone Everything: Colour blocking in action. Fun, modern, and endlessly versatile.
- Wide Everything: Like our bottles, we’re exploring taking multiple products wide in 2026. Your brand deserves to take up space.
Textures Taking Centre Stage
- Sherpa: Cosy, tactile, and ready to expand beyond home décor and jackets. Think bags, beanies, and scarves.
- Puffed/Quilted Finishes: Will add dimension and warmth to any apparel and accessories.
- Nylon: Durable, lightweight, and performance-driven. Its versatility will lend itself across your range.
But Wait: What About Your Brand?
Trends are inspiration, not one-size-fits-all recommendations.
We believe custom-branded products that move the needle are built through collaboration, thoughtful design, and a team that gets it. That might mean using some of the above trends, or exploring something else altogether. What works for one industry might not work for another.
So What Does 2026 Look Like for Your Brand?
Here’s what we’re trying to tick when crafting custom products for impact:
- Does it reflect your brand’s values?
- Will it resonate with your audience?
- Can it create moments worth remembering?
Our team brings the strategy and expertise to create products from scratch for maximum impact. So, take inspiration from the list above, then get in touch and let’s collaborate to make it unmistakably yours.
Ready to Lead the Trend in 2026?
The Good Things team is ready to guide you from concept to delivery, creating custom products that are unforgettable.
