Retail Trends: Squishy, Slimy, & Analog

by HANNAH WALL, Trend Expert at Faire

At Faire, we have a unique read on what’s resonating across independent retail, and for Holiday 2026, a few trends are already rising above the rest. Nostalgia is having a moment: Analog toys, offline play, and throwback favorites are set to land under trees this year, tapping into what delights millennial parents as much as their kids. And one toy trend in particular is proving impossible to slow down.

Squishy toys are the most talked-about toy trend of 2026, with millions of posts on TikTok. On Faire, searches jumped in March of this year and have grown by 185% in the last quarter. Food shapes like butter, cheese wedges, croissants, cake slices, and dumplings took over the shelves of toy stores. Cute animals are the next wave of the trend, as searches rise for Highland cow- (up 219%), axolotl- (up 170%), and capybara-shaped (up 198%) squishies. On Faire, Showcase offers a diverse range of squishies to stock shelves, as does the woman-owned Pop Squish Co.

Slime has been a sensory staple since 2017, and Faire’s data reflects a comeback: Searches are up 35% quarter over quarter, with two brands leading the pack. Searches for Kawaii Slime Co. and Moose Toys’ Gui Gui (offered by Toysmith) are on the rise. What do they have in common? Pastel color palettes, twee animal mix-ins, and syrupy scents with a cuter presentation than the stretchy, slimy hallmarks of the trend’s first wave. But for those who are stuck on the original, searches for DIY slime supplies are up 115%.

A throwback to classic summer camp crafts, friendship bracelet kits are trending. These kits feel highly merchandisable and offer good margins for retailers, so it’s no surprise searches for these kits are up 65% this quarter, as are charm bracelet kits, up 64%. Cotton Twist’s portable carry-all kits are perfect for on-the-go beaders, and Camp Goodie’s kits offer a single craft that can be completed in a well-spent hour.

“Grandma hobbies” are having a moment. Hands-on hobbies, including knitting, crochet, and needlepoint, are helping Generation Z escape doomscrolling. On Faire, searches for cross stitch kits are up 42% quarter over quarter, but these aren’t your Nana’s fiber arts. One of my favorite kits on Faire right now is a disco ball cross-stitch kit. This distinctly niche offering is proof that there’s a kit out there for every consumer, from the
classic styles offered by Bright Soul Thread Co. to the appropriately named Subversive Cross Stitch.

Perhaps the trend I’m most excited about is the resurgence of instant-print and digital cameras. As with other trends on this list, they show the next generation’s craving to be present and to put down their phones while still capturing the moment. The disposable cameras of the early aughts are the perfect solution. On Faire, we’re seeing a 43% lift in searches for Polaroid and a 31% lift in searches for instant cameras. Best of all, this gift is great for all ages: Retailer searches for kids’ cameras, including brands like Kiimento, are up 21%. Plus, photos always make great gifts for parents and grandparents!

Methodology: Faire retailer search data. Trailing 90 days (April 30, 2026–July 28, 2026) vs. prior 90 days (January 30, 2026–Apr 30, 2026).

A version of this feature appears in The Toy Book‘s 2026 Fall Toy & Licensing Preview Issue. Read the full issue here!

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