Texas Homecoming Mums: 2025 Trend Watch
I consider myself a mumologist (a word I made up). A mumologist is a person who studies the history and heritage of homecoming mums (a definition I made up). I’m genuinely fascinated by the origin story of homecoming mums and all the complicated reasons why the tradition evolved differently in Texas than everywhere else in the United States.
Although my book Mumentous was published in 2023, I continue to learn by conducting ongoing research, collecting oral histories, and carefully watching traditional and social media for clues as to where the tradition might go — um, grow — next. I do this in order to increase my own understanding of the big picture and share that understanding with others.
When it comes to predicting HOT HOMECOMING MUM TRENDS FOR 2025, my job is not to answer the question but to ask those who MAKE homecoming mums how to answer the question. These mumtrepreneurs (another word I made up) have built their businesses on successfully predicting and responding to consumer demands. So let’s get to it! According to mumtrepreneurs across the state, these are the…
Hot Homecoming Mum Trends in Texas for 2025
QUICK TAKE: Popular sizes, styles, and trends vary by region and by school.
School colors continue to be in high demand for underclassmen mums and garters, but “fashion” colors/accents in senior mums and garters have become very popular in recent years. Coquette is big. Pink and pastels are extremely popular colors for senior mums. Trinkets are still being used but sparingly, while custom cut-outs are in.
Traditional senior mums and garters in white—with or without metallic (silver or gold) accents—also continue in popularity. High end mums have become an established style, especially in urban areas, driven in large part by mumtrepreneur innovation and tolerance for higher price points.
Be on the lookout for more Team Mums in 2025, including possible challengers to the Guinness World Record Largest Homecoming Mum, created in 2023 by Lewisville High School. Check out my 2024 Team Mum photogallery because, honestly, I think you’ll be amazed.
Quotes from the experts
“We are seeing pink, pink, and more pink! Our seniors love to combine two or more shades of pink to create their dream mum. Blues, and blue and pink combos, come in a close second and third to pink senior mums. We’re also seeing many more senior girls choose gold as their accent color even at schools where silver is the tradition.
Another trend we’re seeing is that more girls than ever want a large cutout of their full first name on the main flower head of their mum instead of their initials.
Coquette—including florals, pearls, and pastels—is also a popular theme. At RG Mums, we’re excited to offer some new imprint designs with roses, flowers, and bows to go along with the overall coquette style. We’re also offering more custom shapes for our seniors.
Homecoming 2025, here we come!”
— Sabrina, RG Mums
“We’re seeing smaller mums that are extra bougie. Customers are asking for 24” standard mums that are blinged out to the max!”
— Corinna, Amistad Floral & Crafts
Examples of high-end custom senior mums, created by Simply Mum Creations, https://www.simplymumcreations.com
“Bows are H.O.T.! Pink is also extremely popular this year.
Satin ribbon, roses, pearls, ruffles, lace—what we used to call Victorian or shabby chic—is popular. We see this stemming from the popularity of brands like LoveShackFancy.
Monochrome mums and printed ribbons are popular in 2025. Think black on black, white on white, etc. All things iridescent—especially ribbons—are also popular.
It appears that laser cut decorations* are getting more popular. Many mum makers have laser cutters and can offer custom cutouts instead of the traditional plastic trinkets.
ACI Wholesale, a huge mum supplies distributor out of Fort Worth, is the traditional plastic trinket manufacturer. Even ACI is moving toward die cut decorations and away from as many plastic trinket options. When we received their catalog earlier this year, we noticed that they have started replicated some of their plastic trinkets in a glittered foam format.
We’ve been getting a lot of tariff notices from different suppliers, because so many of the materials used in homecoming mums comes from China. It will be interesting to see how this impacts wholesale and retail prices across the state.”
— Heather, Boerne Homecoming Mums
*What are laser cut decorations? Also known as die cuts or cut outs, these decorations are created through a fabrication process that uses a custom tool, called a die, to cut materials into specific shapes. It involves pressing the die into a base material (substrate) with enough force to cut through the material. This method is used in various applications, from creating custom shapes for labels to making intricate cutout designs in stationery to crafting homecoming mum embellishments like letters, numbers, and silhouettes.
“Everything is bows, florals, and more bows. Pastels are big, but pink is still at the top of that list! Homecoming mums with coquette and Bridgerton vibes are in this family of ideas. My fellow mumtreprenuers are seeing the same thing.
Every year, we see a few new braids come out and 2025 is no exception. Acrylics trinkets are ever-growing in the mum world. More and more mum makers are using dye sublimation** techniques to expand their abilities to customize their customers’ orders. Customization remains key, especially for seniors.”
— Kisha, DK Florals Inc. and Mums Inc.
**What is dye sublimation? Dye sublimation, or dye sub, is a digital printing technology that uses heat and pressure to transfer dye onto a base material (substrate). The dye becomes part of the substrate's structure, creating a very durable and long-lasting image that won't crack, peel, or fade, which makes it great for use in creating homecoming mum embellishments.
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Shameless Plug for MUMENTOUS
If you enjoyed reading this, you might enjoy my book, Mumentous: Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories about Football, Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition that was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas.
Autographed copies of MUMENTOUS are now available at L&M Wholesale and Manufacturing! This special L&M offer is only available in-store on their website. For information call L&M at 254-897-9978, or buy now at mumsupplies.com.
“… Mumentous by Amy J. Schultz makes crystal clear that while the tradition continues to evolve and mutate, Texas homecoming mums in all their colossal glory and maybe a bit of infamy are here to stay. But they can’t possibly get even bigger and fancier, can they? Texas moms: ‘Darlin’, hold my iced tea (or wine) and pass the glue gun.’ ” — Ruthie Jones, Reading by Moonlight
