8 Trending Hoodie Designs to Boost Your Brand in 2024

Get ready, the busiest shopping season of the year is coming in hot! Is your design game on point? No worries if not, because we’ve got you covered with 8 trending hoodie designs that are all the buzz this year. 

2024 is the year of wellness, connection, and digital escapism. As our daily lives are getting busier, there’s a growing interest in slower living, a search for simplicity—and desire for more fun! Fashion and graphic design reflect these global trends, with specific styles, colors, and themes.

And although custom hoodie designs may vary, they all share something in common: authentic expression. So no matter your taste, you’ll find a hoodie design trend for you.

Start exploring and see which ones fit your aesthetic, brand, and target audience.

8 hoodie design trends for 2024

We’ve highlighted the design elements and color palettes for each design trend. Use this blog post as a guide to create popular hoodie designs for your brand or yourself. 

We’ve also matched the best hoodies for printing with each trend based on fit, style, and feel.

Let’s explore some design trends!

1. Cartoons

Cartoon-inspired designs are taking over the red carpet, the runway, and the art world. Artists are turning cartoon elements into cool designs for apparel and accessories. Did you see the Big Red Boots worn by the character Astro Boy that went viral? These kinds of playful maximalist designs are a breath of fresh air after so many minimalist, neutral styles.

Cartoon designs take us to imaginative worlds, where we can let loose and not take things too seriously. They showcase whimsical characters with exaggerated expressions and dynamic poses, radiating energy and action. From traditional hand-drawn art to modern digital illustrations, these designs cover a wide range of artistic styles.

Hoodie designs with cartoon characters will appeal to those who love animated entertainment and appreciate the imaginative world of cartoons.

Design elements

• Made-up or real characters

• Cartoon-themed elements (speech bubbles, action lines, onomatopoeia, etc.)

• Black outlines or strokes around characters and elements

• Gradient and blending effects for dimension and visual interest

Color palette

Don’t miss out on symbolism here! In cartoon designs, colors represent emotions and themes, setting the atmosphere for the characters. The designs usually feature bright and bold tones, contrasting color combos, and vibrant backgrounds. For an adorable touch, pastel colors create a soft, sweet aesthetic in designs with cute characters.

Best hoodies for this trend

The cartoon trend is the place to experiment with colors. We suggest a warm hoodie like the Unisex Heavy Blend Hoodie | Gildan 18500 or an eco-friendly option with extra soft fabric like the Unisex Eco Raglan Hoodie | SOL’S 03568—both are available in a diverse range of shades.

2. Vintage athletic

Vintage athletic-inspired hoodie designs have made a strong comeback thanks to TikTok. This style is often called or referred to as old money, quiet luxury, or sporty and rich.

It draws inspiration from vintage sports attire and luxury athletic fashion. The key characteristics of this style are classic, timeless silhouettes, high-quality, comfortable fabrics, and minimal, often embroidered, designs. Vintage athletic-inspired designs exude a refined and put-together look with a nod to the past. It’s a style that celebrates timeless fashion and sophistication, making it a beloved choice for those who appreciate a classic and elegant aesthetic.

Design elements

• Short text in bold font styles with serifs (a year, city name, etc.)

• Little symbols, icons, or emblems (sports inventory, team logos, etc.)

• The word club with a name that refers to a specific community (polo club, sports club, wellness club, etc.)

Color palette

The color palette is sophisticated, with subdued hues like navy, burgundy, forest green, camel, and cream to create a refined, polished appearance.

Best hoodies for this trend

Vintage athletic-inspired hoodies call for classic colors, timeless silhouettes, and high-quality fabrics. We suggest the Premium Eco Hoodie made with organic cotton, available in sizes XS–5XL, or our bestseller, the Unisex Premium Hoodie | Cotton Heritage M2580 with a 100% cotton face for a soft touch.

3. All eyes on the back

This year, it’s all about the power of storytelling on hoodies. Embrace bigger is better and more is more to create captivating designs that draw viewers in with curiosity.

The back of a hoodie gives you plenty of room to express yourself, tell stories, and show off your brand. When designing, pay close attention to detail so you achieve a seamless blend of text and graphics while maintaining your narrative or theme.

Design elements

• Collective theme, concept, or narrative

• Engaging and thought-provoking designs

• Creative typography in various font styles and sizes

• Elaborate combination of graphics (illustrations, patterns, photographs, etc.)

• Unconventional layouts of text and graphics

Color palette

No distinct color palette here. Feel free to experiment with all the colors you’d like!

Best hoodies for this trend

To let your design tell its story with ease and clarity, go for oversized hoodies in a wide range of colors. We suggest a casual, budget-friendly pick like the Unisex Heavy Blend Hoodie | Gildan 18500 or a fleece hoodie made specifically for large-scale pictures and patterns like the All-Over Print Unisex Hoodie.

4. Hand-drawn art

Hand-drawn designs on hoodies exude an informal, spontaneous vibe that people are craving these days. They offer a one-of-a-kind artistic touch that brings a playful, imaginative, and expressive element to the garment. Collaborations between artists and clothing brands often result in limited-edition hand-drawn hoodies.

Those who appreciate unique, artistic flair choose hoodies with hand-drawn art to make a bold and creative fashion statement.

Design elements

• Imperfect, organic, free-flowing lines

• Imaginative, expressive illustrations

• Abstract shapes or characters

• Chaotic or eclectic composition, with elements scattered across the hoodie in an artful, yet seemingly random manner

• Handwritten text or messages that add a personal touch

Color palette

The color palette can vary from subtle and muted tones to bold and vibrant shades, depending on the artistic intent.

Best hoodie for this trend

Complement your hand-drawn art with any hoodie fit—relaxed or regular. We suggest a hooded sweatshirt like the Unisex Midweight Hoodie | Independent Trading Co. SS4500 with cuffed long sleeves for a casual look. 

5. Embroidery euphoria

Embroidered apparel, including hoodies, is among the top trending products in 2024. 

Embroidered designs are subtle yet impactful, and you can customize them to your style. A simple design can elevate a classic hoodie and give it a more sophisticated, premium look. Or, go all out with an elaborate embroidered emblem. From icons to gradients and drawings, trendy embroidered designs exude a youthful, stylish vibe.

Plus, embroidered hoodie designs are a hit with people of all ages. But they’re especially perfect for those who love wearing clothes with endearing visuals and appreciate the beauty of intricate design work.

Design elements

• Simple and compact characters, icons, or drawings

• Quotes, short messages, or clever wordplay in clean typography

• Delicate and straightforward lines

Color palette

When designing embroidery art, go minimal with one color or level up with blended tones. At Printful, you can choose standard or unlimited color embroidery to customize your hoodie to perfection.

Best hoodies for this trend

To fulfill your vision, you’ll need hoodies that have many embroidery options like front and back, as well as left and right wrist customization. We suggest an extra soft and warm pullover hoodie like the Unisex Pullover Hoodie | Bella + Canvas 3719 or the Unisex Essential Eco Hoodie | Stanley/Stella STSU822, a heavyweight hoodie made with organic and recycled materials.

6. Playful and bold typography

Just like fashion and graphic design, font trends evolve every year. In 2024, the trending fonts evoke nostalgia, but with a modern twist. This cool typography takes inspiration from various styles like vintage, retro, goth, and art deco.

For hoodies, bold and spirited typography is having its moment this year. Think lettering that exudes confidence and self-expression, showing that the wearer embraces their individuality. Take a fun, or humorous message, quote, or wordplay, and select a font that’s handwritten, graffiti-inspired, or custom-designed. These youthful hoodie designs will appeal to those seeking a more expressive and unconventional style.

Design elements

• Creative typography

• Artistic elements (doodles, illustrations, icons, etc.)

Color palette

Go for bright, lively colors that instantly grab attention and make the typography pop. For a fun and modern twist, add neon elements. Soft pastels and color gradients will also give you that whimsical look.

Best hoodies for this trend

This style of typography will look great on a variety of hoodies, especially our bestsellers that are available in a wide range of colors—the Unisex Heavy Blend Hoodie | Gildan 18500 or the Unisex Premium Hoodie | Cotton Heritage M2580.

7. Gothic revival

Goth style is making waves in the fashion and graphic design world. Fashion designers showcased their fall/winter 2023 collections with gothic elements, while Wednesday Addams from the series Wednesday blew up on TikTok, boosting the gothcore trend. 

Gothic design style challenges the norm. It draws inspiration from literature, poetry, and art that explores themes of love and death. The designs seek to evoke emotions like mystery, darkness, and introspection.

Gothic hoodie designs have a strong aesthetic that resonates with those who embrace the mystique and allure of the goth subculture.

Design elements

• Gothic elements (intricate patterns, motifs inspired by Gothic architecture and art)

• Occult symbols (skulls, crosses, bats, pentagrams, and other mystic icons commonly associated with gothic themes)

• Mythical creatures

• Elegant, ornate, calligraphic, and expressive font styles

• Emphasis on contrast (dark elements with lighter accents)

Color palette

You don’t have to think twice here, a dark and moody palette is the way to go. You can also add other rich, deep colors like purples, blues, and reds to create a sense of mystery and intensity. For a modern touch, throw in accent colors like neon yellows or greens.

Best hoodies for this trend

Choose hoodies with design elements that’ll enhance your gothic-inspired art, like edgy tie-dye fabrics or a cropped hoodie style with a raw hem. We suggest the best heavyweight hoodie like the Unisex Champion Tie-Dye Hoodie or the Women’s Cropped Hoodie | Bella + Canvas 7502.

8. Digital escapism

Digital escapism is on the rise in graphic design, fashion, and interior spaces, driven by our ever-increasing connectivity. It offers an escape from real life while immersing you in another space.

Escapism plays with emotions, interpretations, and imagination to create a sense of comfort. This trend runs with the desire to break away from reality and transport us to another world, evoking fantasy, adventure, and nostalgia. Above all, digital escapism hoodie designs have a sense of freedom and liberation from real life.

These hoodies are for anyone who loves wearing fashion that takes them on a visual journey, blurring the lines between our world and imagination.

Design elements

• Whimsical, enchanting, surreal landscapes

• Fantasy creatures

• Cosmic themes (galaxies, stars, planets, etc.)

• Otherworldly architecture (floating islands, ethereal cities, hidden realms)

• Elements of magic and travel (spellbooks, potions, treasure maps, etc.)

• Technology (computers, phones, etc.)

• Graphic lines and shapes

• Nostalgic references to fantasy books and movies

Color palette  

The color palette can consist of pastel shades and low-hue natural tones to bring a sense of comfort and whimsy. Alternatively, you can achieve a more dynamic and futuristic atmosphere by using contrasting combinations with neons and vibrant shades.

Best hoodies for this trend

Contrast the moody aesthetic of your digital escapism design with hoodies that offer the perfect backdrop colors. We recommend the Unisex Midweight Hoodie | Independent Trading Co. SS4500 which is available in dark and pastel tones, plus has a 100% cotton face. If you have patterns or large-scale designs, go for our fleece hoodie—the All-Over Print Unisex Hoodie.

Seize the moment and create

Your turn! Take these 2024 design trends and spice up your print-on-demand store with trending hoodies or use them as a guide to see what people are looking for. If you’re on a roll and crave more inspiration, check out this blog post with 32 more hoodie design ideas.

Put together your design and Printful will print or embroider it. You can use our design library in the Design Maker or upload a design of your choice. Before ordering your new hoodie, our free Design Maker will guide you with gridlines and suggestions to make sure your print or embroidery is flawless.

A final piece of advice: consider experimenting with logo placement that complements the overall aesthetic of your hoodie design and reinforces your brand identity. It’s an easy way to elevate your apparel and boost brand awareness. 

The design world is constantly evolving with microtrends popping up every month. To stay updated, keep an eye on what’s happening in the world, especially on social media. Remember, at the end of the day, the real winner is a design that speaks to you and your target audience.

Go turn your vision into wearable art!

Valuable read: How to Start a Clothing Brand: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide