2025/26 Dog Wear Trends: Fabrics, Styles & Planning for Pattern Makers

Jill Bartlett Author

Apr 01, 2025 |

Stay ahead of 2025/26 dog fashion trends! Discover trending fabrics, styles, and colours for Fall/Winter and design market-ready dog wear patterns.

Why Now is the Best Time to Plan for Fall Pattern Sales

When I first started making dog coats for business, I made every piece custom to each dog, requiring new measurements and a new pattern. I didn’t realize at the time that this wasn’t scalable—and by the time fall rolled around, I was always scrambling to keep up. If I had planned ahead, I could have streamlined my process and sold more.

If you're designing dog wear patterns, spring is the perfect time to start planning for fall and winter sales. Many pattern makers wait until fall to start designing, but by then, it’s often too late to meet customer demand.

Successful designers work months in advance, ensuring their patterns are graded, digitized, and market-ready so manufacturers, small businesses, and sewists can start production before cooler weather hits.

So, what should you do now to get ahead? In this post, I’ll walk you through the key steps to ensure your patterns are designed, tested, and ready for sale in time for the fall season.

1. Research Fall & Winter Dog Wear Trends Now

I still remember my first dog coat, which I made using outdoor furniture fabric. The result? Stiff, uncomfortable, and not waterproof. 

That experience quickly taught me how crucial fabric choice is when designing dog wear patterns. The right fabric can make all the difference in fit, comfort, durability, and function—whether you're designing for warmth, water resistance, or breathability.

If you're unsure about which materials work best for dog apparel, I’ve written a detailed guide on fabric selection for dog wear that covers performance fabrics, sustainable options, and key considerations for durability and comfort. You can read it here:

🔗 Fabric Selection for Dog Wear Patterns

To create patterns that sell, it's crucial to know what styles and materials are in demand. Here’s what’s trending for Fall/Winter 2025 in dog wear:

🔥 Trending Fabrics for Fall/Winter 2025/26:

• Waterproof Softshell & Performance Fabrics – Breathable, weather-resistant materials suitable for rain and snow.
• Recycled & Sustainable Fabrics – Options like organic wool, fleece made from recycled plastics, and plant-based alternatives.
• Quilted & Insulated Materials – Lightweight thermal insulations such as Thinsulate or PrimaLoft for added warmth.
• Dintex – A waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric ideal for protective dog wear.
• RPET (Recycled Polyester) – A sustainable fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, offering durability and eco-friendliness.

🎨 Trending Colours for Fall/Winter 2025/26:

• Bold Reds and Blues – Vibrant hues that make a statement.
• Burgundy – A luxurious shade serving as a new neutral.
• Deep Blue (Future Dusk) – Conveys stability and balance.
• Soft Vintage Pink (Transcendent Pink) – Offers a soothing and earthy tone.
• Intense Purple (Damson) – Adds depth and richness to designs.
• Teal (Lyons Blue) – A versatile colour that complements various palettes.
• Winterberry – A rich, berry-inspired hue perfect for the season.

👀 Trending Dog Wear Styles:

• Adjustable & Modular Designs – Custom-fit options featuring Velcro, adjustable panels, or convertible layers.
• Layered & Multi-Use Designs – Jackets with removable hoods, fleece-lined coats, or convertible rain jackets.
• Reflective & Visibility Features – High-visibility colours, reflective piping, and glow-in-the-dark trims.

🐾 Incorporating Human Fashion Trends:

Drawing inspiration from human fashion can elevate your dog wear designs. Here are some notable trends from the Fall/Winter 2025/26 season:

• Preppy Styling with a Modern Twist – Classic elements like plaid and tartan are making a comeback in human fashion, blending traditional patterns with contemporary flair. ​teenvogue.com
• Utility and Workwear Influences – Functional designs featuring cargo pockets and durable materials are prominent, offering both style and practicality. ​
• Bohemian Aesthetics – Flowy fabrics, fringe details, and earthy tones are trending, bringing a relaxed yet chic vibe. ​
• Faux Fur Accents – Luxurious faux fur is being used in outerwear, adding texture and warmth to designs. ​
• Bold Animal Prints – Leopard and other animal prints are making a statement in coats and accessories. ​

By integrating these human fashion trends, you can create dog wear patterns that are both stylish and aligned with current fashion movements.

The earlier you research these trends, the more relevant and desirable your patterns will be upon launch.

2. Start Designing & Prototyping Your Patterns

When I first started, I had no clue about grading. I was literally making a new pattern for every single dog coat in order to size it up or down to fit. It wasn’t until I learned how to properly grade patterns that I realized how much time I could save.

Once you’ve researched the trends, start your design and digitization process.

✅ Refine Your Base Pattern – Choose a medium-sized base pattern that can be scaled.

✅ Digitize & Grade Your Pattern - Use Illustrator, GIMP, or other pattern-making software to create multiple sizes. For a step-by-step guide on digitizing, check out my blog post:

🔗 Digitizing Dog Wear Patterns with Illustrator

If you're working on grading and need help applying rules for different dog sizes, you may find this guide useful:
🔗 Grading Rules for Dogs

✅ Test the Fit – If possible, sew a sample and test it on different dog breeds to check fit and make adjustments as needed. Understanding dog body shapes and measurements is key to ensuring your pattern fits correctly across various sizes. If you need help determining which measurements matter most and how to take them accurately, check out my blog post:

🔗 Measuring Dogs and Understanding Anatomy

This guide walks you through chest circumference, back length, neck-to-withers, and other essential measurements to help you refine your pattern fit with confidence.

This process takes time, so starting now ensures your patterns are finalized and ready before production deadlines hit.

3. Get Your Patterns Market-Ready

Before you release your pattern, it must be professionally packaged and formatted for customers or manufacturers.

📌 Pattern Instructions – Clear, step-by-step sewing guides.
📌 Print-Ready PDF Files – A professional layout that’s easy to use.
📌 Marketing Images – Styled product photos, mockups, or garment flat lays.

This extra preparation makes your patterns more attractive to buyers and increases sales potential.

4. Build Anticipation for Your Pattern Launch

Even if your patterns aren’t finalized yet, start generating buzz now.

Ways to Build Awareness:

• Share behind-the-scenes sketches, fabric swatches, or early prototypes on social media.
• Create a waitlist for your upcoming pattern releases and collect emails.
• Engage with dog apparel businesses and manufacturers who may be interested in your designs.

By the time your patterns are ready, you’ll already have an engaged audience excited to buy.

Final Thoughts: Start Planning Now to Sell More This Fall

The best-selling pattern designers don’t wait until fall to create—they plan months in advance so their patterns are market-ready before the season starts.

By working ahead, you can:
✔ Ensure manufacturers and dog lovers can produce your designs on time
✔ Have a fully tested, digitized, and graded pattern collection
✔ Build an engaged audience eager for your launch

Free 25/26 Dog Wear Trend & Pattern Planning Workbook

Keeping up with trends is one thing—actually designing for them is another! That’s why I created the 25/26 Dog Wear Trend & Pattern Planning Workbook, a free resource to help you translate these trends into wearable, well-designed dog wear pieces. Download it now and start sketching your next best-seller!

👉 Are you preparing for your fall pattern releases? Let me know in the comments what designs you’re working on!

Categories: : Blog, Pattern Making, Sewing