FashionTech
Can cooling tools be the hot new accessory? (Glossy.Co)
Summary: Cooling devices like portable fans are emerging as a ubiquitous summer accessory in New York City, according to Glossy.Co. Makers of fans and cooling devices are using collaborations, stylish colorways and influencer marketing to make them desirable accessories. Megababe’s Coldies cooling patches sold out a week after their August release and triggered a 6,000-person waitlist. Blueair’s sage green colorway of its AlwaysCool Portable Handheld Fan has emerged as the best seller. Reddit data shows the subreddit r/PortableFans generated 16,900 global views from September 2025 through August 2026, a 2,075.8% increase year over year.
Why it matters: According to Berkeley Earth’s 2025 Global Temperature Report, 2025 was the third-hottest year on Earth since 1850, and the number of heat waves per year in the United States has doubled since the 1980s, according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment. Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, said, "We are witnessing the start of a huge category explosion because being dangerously hot isn’t a summer gimmick — it’s a daily comfort issue."
Context: There’s precedent for turning a practical purchase into something more with intangible benefits, as seen with water bottles like Stanley and Owala. At New York Fashion Week in September, brands like Retrofête and PatBo offered branded portable hand fans to attendees.
Date: September 16, 2026 12:00 AM ET
URL: https://www.glossy.co/beauty/wellness/can-cooling-tools-be-the-hot-new-accessory/
Generated Analysis Tone: Negative (66%)
Source Registry Score: 10.0/10 — High
Generated text and tone describe the analysis; the source registry score is not a factual truth rating.Post ID: 9c846204