The Backpack: Issue #73

• Trend Alert: Bears dominate the holiday drop!
  
• What's new in commonsku: EXPO @2026
  
• Can’t Miss Content: Bottega Jenga, Murakami Dodgers, Woody's back

Beary Merry: Everyone's Dropping Bear Merch!

We called it back in October: the Starbuck’s “Bearista cup” was gonna blow up -- now there’s full-on bear-hysteria everywhere. Fights, arrests, lines around the block… and it’s not just Starbucks. There’s the famous Collegiate Bear reinventing university gear on 200+ campuses, Mountain Dew rolling out retro bear designs with Market Studios, and Ralph Lauren giving us a very bear-forward Christmas.

Bears are everywhere this season — collectible, cuddly, and completely sold out. Whether it’s nostalgia bait or just perfectly timed cuteness, brands are leaning hard into fuzzy merch that makes people feel something. Merch lesson? Sometimes the softest drop hits the hardest. 😜 And if you want real bear design inspo, go straight to the OG.

CAVA: When Bowl Fans Become Brand Fans

CAVA just dropped a merch shop and crowned their customers "flavor fans"—a move so perfectly on-brand it hurts. The store proves fast-casual isn't just feeding people anymore; it's creating superfans who want to wear their obsession. Think Chipotle's cult energy meets Sweetgreen's aesthetic polish, but make it shoppable. When your Mediterranean bowls inspire this level of devotion, why not let fans rep the brand head-to-toe? Check this feta hoodie, hot harissa hat and vaca tote (”flaunt your flavor”). And note this quote from their Chief Experience Officer, “Now, at a moment when merch has become one of the most powerful ways for people, especially Gen Z and Millennials, to show what they’re into and be part of cultural conversations, we’re excited to give our community a new way to express their love for CAVA beyond the bowl.” Merch mic drop - backpacker approved! 

Cheers to Boozy Branding and (Elegant) Bar Merch

Bars and restaurants are waking up to what brands have known forever: merch moves. According to Square's Fall Restaurant Report, nearly half of diners now expect their favorite spots to sell branded gear—and the Financial Times reports that bars are leaning in hard, turning regulars into walking billboards. It's not just about selling a tee; it's about building loyalty one logo drop at a time. Whose got the best bar merch? Go grab some inspo from this latest Financial Times article. A few of our faves: a bandana that turns into a board game, Dante Negroni candle, and Le Crocodile crewneck and certainly this Bauhaus inspired bar merch. And who could forget the classic, the Ray’s trucker cap. Cheers to boozy merch!

Join The skummunity In Vegas (2026 Expo Magic)

The PPAI Expo returns January 12-15, 2026, and the commonsku crew is bringing the energy! Whether you're chasing platform insights, hunting networking gold, or just want to grab breakfast with fellow merch pros, we've got you covered. From educational sessions to skummunity hangs, here's how to connect with us at Expo and make the most of your Vegas trip!

🤠 Hey, howdy, hey! We don’t normally link to Disney merch but "Toy Story" turns 30 and we’re gettin’ animated over this Woody button down and you-gotta-see-it-to-believe-it cowboy fringe sweatshirt.

🎲 Honestly one of our fave collabs cause it’s just too perfect: Bottega Veneta and Jenga.

🃏 People, Brands, and Things drop their first-merch project: brand trading cards.

🏎️ Sometimes, we think Formula 1 has more merch budget than god but still, what they do with merch is cool. Puma’s FTW and dog sweaters for the heart.

 🍎 Apple's employee-only merch has become collector gold.

🦖 Google's Chrome Dino Festive Frost sweater and Android plushie drops prove Google can actually be fun.

🎸 “The Nirvanification of Oasis” (merch)

📻 Radiohead merch is here and we dropped it in The Backpack just for super-fan Mark Graham.

🍚 USA Rice Gear exists (think: "Milk that does a body good" but make it rice) and we think maybe some merch pro can give them a little help with their merch?

🏛️ Oval Office study becomes a merch pop-up shop (NYT)

⚾ Takashi Murakami's Dodgers collab proves sports merch can be museum-worthy.

💛 Chick-fil-A's gold charm set is chef’s kiss! So is, basically, their whole holiday merch shop.

📚 A collab you didn’t know you needed: Jack Kerouac + Zach Bryan. You’re welcome.

🎵 Rad, rad, rad: Spin Magazine turns 40 and drops a collab with Aviator Nation.