You’ve seen it many winters: millions of funny, ugly Christmas sweaters scavenged from grandpa’s closets and worn shamelessly to one of those tacky Christmas parties thrown through the month of December.
But have you ever wondered what started this peculiar trend? Even high-fashion retailers have now included their version of the ugly Christmas sweater. So, where did it begin? This is the tale of how it happened. ✨😊🎄
Unwrap What You Need
The History of Ugly Sweaters
Whether you love or hate ugly Christmas sweaters, you’ll definitely be interested in learning how they became a holiday staple and why they’re now a must-have each Christmas. Let’s take a step back in time; you’ll love the story!
It All Started in the 50's
Ugly Christmas sweaters became popular in the 1950s with the mass commercialization of Christmas. They were first known as “Jingle Bell Sweaters” and featured discrete Christmas-themed decorations. The original ugly Christmas sweaters were never intended to be “ugly;” they were actually pretty artistic and joyful.
The trend had a modest presence in the media until the 80’s, when it became popular on TV.
80's and 90's: Popularization and Deprecation
The character that popularized weird sweaters with strange patterns was Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show. By the end of the decade, it was common for conductors of Christmas special shows to wear them.
During the nineties, the style winded down but never died. The turning point was when the character Mark Darcy was shamed in the 2001 film Bridget Jones’s Diary with one of the most out-of-place designs ever seen on screen. Designers were hand-knitting one-of-a-kind sweaters! After that, ugly jerseys stepped into the XXI century with renewed strength.
2000's: The Party Starts
It was in Vancouver that Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch launched the first Christmas Sweater Party. The idea soon spread all over Canada, the US, and later worldwide. The parties turned into massive events, often in support of charity causes.
By 2007, ugly Christmas sweater searches started to soar on Google, and the trend slowly trickled back into the media.
Celebrities and Haute Couture Find It in 2010's
Early in the decade, various fashion designers released Christmas sweater collections based on the ugly ones. Soon, retail stores picked up on the trend, and nowadays, you can buy them brand new instead of scavenging in thrift stores and inherited wardrobes.
Celebrities, TV stars, and even politicians boarded the train and turned it into a common Christmas sight.
@placeitapp Did you know the history behind those jingle bells and flashy patterns? Let's unwrap the fascinating story of the ugly #christmassweater ! #uglychristmassweaters #christmassales #christmastiktok #uglysweaters #holidaystyle #christmassweaters #christmassweatercontest ♬ Christmas Is Coming - DM Production
Celebrate The National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!
Social media has had a huge impact on this trend, of course. Young people started buying vintage knits to see who got the ugliest one. The internet helped boost this fashion until it got global! So now we even have our national Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.
That’s right! There is an official national day to wear your ugly sweater. Honor National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on the third Friday of December by designing something festive for your online customers! It’s time to create a winning holiday sweater collection that will fly off the shelves.
🚀 Don’t miss out on any special date like this one with our t-shirt ideas calendar!
Top Trend for POD Sellers! Why Aren't You Making These?
If you search Google for “ugly Christmas sweater,” you’ll see top retailers advertising these wonderfully tacky designs. That’s right – ugly Christmas sweaters are trending at the top of holiday searches! But it doesn’t stop at sweaters; you’ll also find ugly Christmas earrings, socks, pajamas, cushions, and so much more. So, creating your own ugly Christmas collection might be a smart move this season.
As you can see, the interest in ‘ugly Christmas sweaters’ in the U.S. starts to increase in October, peaking in December before it begins to decline. This means it’s a great time to upload this product to your collection. 😉
With Placeit by Envato, you’ll have access to a wide range of ugly sweater templates that you can easily customize to create the look your audience wants. Plus, we’ve got amazing mockups to showcase your designs without actually having to make the sweater.
Check out some ugly Christmas sweater ideas to inspire you – from funny to romantic or even classic Christmas messages. You can design anything you imagine!
✨ Ugly Sweater Designs
🌟 Sweatshirt Mockups
Where to Print Your Ugly Christmas Sweaters?
Good question! For the best results, go with sweatshirts as the base product. Here are our top POD (print-on-demand) recommendations to help you create the most stunning ugly Christmas sweaters for 2024!
🌟 Note: While DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing is recommended for full-color designs, you can also opt for embroidery if your design only covers a small area or choose knitwear to get the famous intricate technique of these Christmas apparel.
This Year, Make Your Ugly Christmas Sweater Collection
Start now to design your ugly Christmas sweater collection. Do some research to see what’s trendy and what your customers are looking for so that you can stand out at any Christmas party that everyone will love and hate at the same time.
If you’re looking to ace this year’s Christmas projects, open up our toolbox! You’ll find updated content with our top tips and templates. 🎄🦌✨
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