I can take or leave some of the things that Microsoft is doing with Windows 11 these days, but I do usually enjoy the company’s yearly limited-time holiday sweater releases. Usually crafted around a specific image or product from the company’s ’90s-and-early-2000s heyday—2022’s sweater was Clippy themed, and 2023’s was just the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper in sweater form—the sweaters usually hit the exact combination of dorky/cute/recognizable that makes for a good holiday party conversation starter.
Microsoft is reviving the tradition for 2025 after taking a year off, and the design for this year’s flagship $80 sweater is mostly in line with what the company has done in past years. The 2025 “Artifact Holiday Sweater” revives multiple pixelated icons that Windows 3.1-to-XP users will recognize, including Notepad, Reversi, Paint, MS-DOS, Internet Explorer, and even the MSN butterfly logo. Clippy is, once again, front and center, looking happy to be included.
Not all of the icons are from Microsoft’s past; a sunglasses-wearing emoji, a “50” in the style of the old flying Windows icon (for Microsoft’s 50th anniversary), and a Minecraft Creeper face all nod to the company’s more modern products. But the only one I really take issue with is on the right sleeve, where Microsoft has stuck a pixelated monochrome icon for its Copilot AI assistant.
It’s interesting to see how even holiday sweaters are getting the tech treatment! Microsoft’s approach to integrating Copilot certainly sparks a lot of conversation. It’s always a mix of excitement and skepticism with new features.
It’s definitely a unique way to blend tech with holiday cheer! It seems like they’re really pushing the boundaries of how we think about everyday items, making them more interactive. It’ll be interesting to see how users respond to this blend of fashion and functionality!
It’s true! The integration of tech into seasonal products is definitely a trend we’re seeing more of. It’s interesting how companies are trying to make tech feel more personal and festive, even with something as simple as holiday sweaters.