Fans of the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things” might be feeling a little bittersweet these days. The fifth, and final, season made its debut on Nov. 26, 2025, with the rollout coming in chunks. The finale is scheduled for Dec. 31, 2025.

While many are lamenting the show being in its final season, perhaps fans can find a way to feel good through a new merch collaboration from Nike. The retail giant and the hit series unveiled a new apparel collection for Fall/Winter 2025, which dropped on Dec. 4. Included in the collection are excusive, limited-edition footwear designs, T-shirts, and hoodies.

Collaborations like this aren’t anything new to the world of retail apparel. Over the years, we’ve seen such partnerships as Nike x Nasa, adidas x Kris Andrew, and more highlight how brands capitalize on the power of culture and style to create merch people wear to express their passions. While most of these collabs take place on the retail side of the apparel industry, their influence and impact on the wholesale and apparel decorating industry should not go unnoticed.

It’s no secret that retail trends heavily influence which blanks are popular among the apparel decorating community. For example, 2025 has been dominated by 90’s streetwear, heavyweight and oversized garments, and the Y2K revival. Paying attention to merch collaborations like Nike x Stranger Things helps decorators guide their customers and end-users to products they’ll love and continue to wear.

But this also brings another topic forward to the spotlight: licensing and copyright. In 2023, a Colorado business faced off against Nike in a trademark battle. It’s crucial decorators understand all of the legalities that go into licensing and trademarking, especially when it comes to working with logos and artwork they find online.

Keep an eye out on Apparelist for upcoming trends and influences that will impact the industry going into 2026.