As a strategic wholesale buyer like Ron, you're constantly scanning the horizon for the next high-volume, high-margin "it" item. You're looking for a product that hits the perfect trifecta: it's on-trend, it has a low cost of goods, and it has a high perceived value. For the upcoming Winter 2025 season, one item is signaling across all our data points as the perfect candidate to be that best-selling, impulse-buy hero: the velvet hair tie, or scrunchie. But why this specific item, and why now?
Wholesalers should stock velvet hair ties in bulk for Winter 2025 because they are the perfect storm of commercial appeal: the plush, luxe texture of velvet aligns perfectly with the seasonal "cozy luxury" trend, while the simple construction allows for a very low production cost, creating an ideal high-margin, high-volume fashion accessory. It's an accessible indulgence that consumers will buy in multiples.
From my manufacturing perspective, the numbers are undeniable. The demand for velvet fabric skyrockets as we head into the second half of the year, and the scrunchie remains one of the most efficient products to produce in terms of material usage and labor. At Shanghai Fumao Clothing, we've refined the production of this single item into a science. Let me break down exactly why this is the smart bet for your Winter 2025 wholesale program.
Why Does Velvet Resonate So Strongly in Winter?
The appeal of this trend begins with the material itself. Velvet is not just a fabric; it's a feeling, and that feeling is intrinsically linked to the winter season.
Velvet resonates so strongly in winter because its plush, soft texture and deep, lustrous sheen evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and festive luxury. It's a highly tactile material that consumers associate with holiday parties, cozy evenings, and premium quality. This powerful seasonal association makes it an easy and intuitive sell during the peak Q4 retail season.
This is a consistent pattern we see every year. As soon as the weather turns cooler, our orders for all things velvet—headbands, scarves, and especially hair ties—increase dramatically. The fabric's unique ability to absorb and reflect light gives colors a deep, saturated richness that other materials can't match. A simple burgundy scrunchie in velvet looks far more expensive and desirable than the same color in plain cotton. This powerful material appeal is the foundation of the product's success and is a key consideration before we even discuss the color palette.
What type of velvet is used?
For scrunchies, we typically use a "stretch velvet." This is a velvet fabric that has a small amount of spandex or elastane blended in. This is crucial for two reasons:
- It allows the scrunchie to stretch easily over a ponytail without putting too much strain on the inner elastic.
- It has excellent "recovery," meaning it snaps back to its original, nicely ruffled shape.
Is it real velvet?
Traditionally, velvet was made from silk, a luxurious fiber harvested from the cocoons of silkworms, which required labor-intensive cultivation and processing, making it incredibly expensive and accessible only to the elite.
The velvet used for fashion accessories today is almost always a synthetic velvet made from polyester, a versatile man-made fiber derived from petroleum-based polymers. Modern polyester velvet has a beautiful look and feel, with a soft, plush texture that mimics the opulence of silk velvet, often featuring a subtle sheen that catches light in a warm, inviting way.
What Are the Key Colors for Winter 2025?
While the texture of velvet is the primary draw, a strategic color palette is what will make your collection feel modern and highly desirable.
The key colors for Winter 2025 are a mix of rich, classic jewel tones and softer, more contemporary muted shades. For maximum wholesale appeal, a collection should be built around a core of Deep Burgundy, Emerald Green, and Classic Black, accented with on-trend shades like Dusty Rose and Cream.
This balanced palette is critical for maximizing sales. The jewel tones are perfect for the holiday party season, while the softer, more muted tones have a broader, everyday appeal. At our factory, we can dye fabric to match any Pantone color code precisely, but we are seeing the most significant volume in this specific palette:
- Deep Burgundy/Wine: The quintessential winter color. Always a best-seller.
- Emerald Green: Feels festive, luxurious, and sophisticated.
- Classic Black: Non-negotiable. It's the highest volume color in any accessory program.
- Dusty Rose/Mauve: A softer, feminine neutral that has become a year-round staple.
- Cream/Ivory: Provides a beautiful, high-contrast option that feels fresh and modern.
This curated palette ensures your collection has both the festive pop and the everyday staples customers are looking for, which is a key part of creating a high-margin product.
How do you ensure color consistency?
We use the Pantone Matching System (PMS), a globally recognized color standard that ensures precise and consistent color reproduction across industries. You provide us with the specific Pantone TCX codes for your desired colors, which are meticulously documented to capture every nuance of hue, saturation, and lightness.
Our skilled technicians then carefully dye the fabric using specialized dyes and precise temperature controls, ensuring that each batch adheres strictly to the Pantone specifications.
Should they be sold individually or in sets?
Both! But selling them in curated sets is a fantastic strategy. We can create a backing card that features a "Jewel Tone" set (Burgundy, Emerald, Black) and a "Modern Neutrals" set (Dusty Rose, Cream, Black). This increases the average transaction value and makes for a more substantial, giftable product.
Why Is This the Perfect High-Margin Item?
As a buyer, you're always analyzing the relationship between the cost of goods and the perceived value. The velvet scrunchie is a masterclass in this equation.
The velvet scrunchie is a perfect high-margin item because the raw material (polyester velvet) and the simple construction lead to a very low production cost, while the fabric's luxurious appearance creates a very high perceived value in the eyes of the consumer. A customer may be willing to pay $8 for a velvet scrunchie that costs you less than a dollar to produce and land.
This is a simple manufacturing reality. A scrunchie is essentially a tube of fabric with a piece of elastic inside. It uses a very small amount of fabric and is very fast to sew. This efficiency is what makes the production cost so low. However, the tactile and visual appeal of the velvet makes the finished product feel expensive and special. This large gap between the actual cost and the perceived value is the definition of a high-margin product, and it's why this is a smarter bet than more complex accessories.
What is the typical production cost?
While this depends on the order quantity and the exact fabric quality, a standard velvet scrunchie produced in bulk in China can have a factory-gate price (FOB price) well under $0.50 USD. This gives you a huge amount of room for your markup, shipping costs, and profit.
The velvet fabric, often sourced from textile mills in regions like Zhejiang or Jiangsu, comes in a range of rich hues—from deep burgundy to soft lavender—and varying pile heights, adding texture and luxury to the final product. Bulk production in specialized factories allows for efficient manufacturing processes, with automated cutting and sewing lines ensuring consistent quality and quick turnaround times.
How can you increase the perceived value even more?
- Use a wider, more voluminous cut: More fabric makes the scrunchie look fuller and more luxurious.
- Add a small, branded detail: A tiny, metal logo charm or a sophisticated woven label can elevate the product.
- Focus on packaging: Selling a set of three on a beautifully designed backing card instantly makes it feel like a more substantial gift.
How Does It Compare to Other Winter Accessories?
When planning your budget, you have to decide which products to invest in. How does the velvet scrunchie stack up against other winter staples like beanies or gloves?
Compared to more complex winter accessories like knitted beanies or gloves, the velvet scrunchie offers a significantly better return on investment due to its lower manufacturing complexity, lack of sizing issues, and broader demographic appeal.**
This is a key strategic consideration.
- No Sizing: Beanies and gloves require different sizes. A scrunchie is "one size fits all." This dramatically simplifies your inventory management and reduces the risk of being left with unsold sizes.
- Lower Complexity: A knitted beanie requires complex machinery and programming. A scrunchie requires a basic sewing machine. This lower complexity means faster production times and fewer potential quality control issues.
- Broader Appeal: While not everyone wears a beanie, a huge demographic of people with long hair use hair ties daily. The velvet scrunchie is a simple, affordable way for them to add a seasonal touch to their look.
At Shanghai Fumao Clothing, we produce all of these items, and I can tell you that for a simple, high-volume, quick-turn program, nothing beats the efficiency of the scrunchie.
Is it just a youth trend?
Not at all. While it's huge with teens and young adults, the luxurious nature of velvet and the more sophisticated color palettes (like deep, rich black that exudes timeless elegance and velvety burgundy with a subtle sheen that catches light just so) have made it a popular accessory for women of all ages looking for a gentle, non-damaging way to tie their hair back with a touch of style.
The soft, buttery texture of the velvet glides smoothly through hair, preventing tangles and breakage, while its plush surface feels indulgent against the skin. Whether paired with a sleek bob, loose waves, or a high ponytail, these velvet hair ties add a refined, polished finish that elevates any look from ordinary to extraordinary, making them a staple in both everyday wardrobes and special occasion ensembles alike.
Can it be a gift item?
Absolutely. A curated set of 3-5 velvet scrunchies, each swathed in rich, buttery-soft textures ranging from deep burgundy to warm emerald and classic ivory, presented on a sleek, matte-finish card adorned with delicate holiday motifs or nestled in a small, gift-ready box lined with silk, is a perfect "stocking stuffer" or small gift item for the holiday season, making it a key product for Q4 sales.
These scrunchies, with their smooth, non-slip velvet that gently holds hair in place without tugging, add a touch of luxury and practicality to any gift-giving moment, appealing to both fashion-forward individuals and those seeking thoughtful, affordable presents that bring a smile.
Conclusion
For Winter 2025, the velvet hair tie is not just another retro accessory; it is a calculated, strategic buy for any wholesaler. Its success is rooted in a perfect formula: the powerful seasonal appeal of velvet, a smart and on-trend color palette, and a manufacturing profile that creates the ideal high-margin, high-volume product. It's a simple, low-risk item that offers a superior return on investment compared to more complex winter accessories. It is, without a doubt, one of the smartest bets you can make for your upcoming seasonal collection.
At Shanghai Fumao Clothing, we are fully equipped to be your bulk supplier for this key item. We have the right materials, the efficient production lines, and the color expertise to deliver a high-quality, profitable program for you.
If you are ready to build your best-selling Winter 2025 accessory program, let's talk. Please contact our Business Director, Elaine, at her email: elaine@fumaoclothing.com, to get started.
