When I started this site I promise I wasn’t planning on writing about sweaters, but Microsoft has a modern tradition of selling limited edition ugly tech sweaters and sending them to a few media and analysts. At this point, I have a small collection of the things, so a quick review of the latest model:
This year’s #MicrosoftUglySweater, “Artifact,” is not actually all that ugly if you are the type to wear gadget-oriented shirts or socks (in other words, me). It is made of 100% soft-knit acrylic (i.e., plastic that feels like soft cotton) and comes in sizes XS – 4XL. My review unit is an XL that fits true to size — previous year’s designs ran on the small side. It is moderately warm and suitable for layering under outwear. When folded it is not puffy and can fit nicely in a large plastic storage bin with other swag you wear only occasionally.
Design
The design features icons from Microsoft’s past and three from the present: the Microsoft 50th Anniversary emblem, Minecraft Creeper, and Copilot logo. The 50th Anniversary logo makes sense, and the Copilot inclusion satisfies Satya Nadella’s corporate mandate that everything at Microsoft must tie into Copilot somehow, including articles of clothing.
Historical icons include: Pixel cursor, MSN, Clippy, Minesweeper, Internet Explorer, Microsoft 3.1 Paintbrush, Windows 3.1, Notepad, Windows Reversi, Microsoft Memo, Windows computer, Windows CD-ROM drive, Minesweeper emoji, Windows printer, Windows 3 logo, Windows recycle bin, Windows folder, Windows regional setting, and MS-DOS.
I find the arrangement of the icons somewhat arbitrary, but the overall aesthetic is pleasing. Some of Microsoft’s early ugly holiday sweater designs were extremely Christmas-specific but this neutral, tech-centric color palette can be worn whenever you are chilly and want to make a tech-forward statement.
Upgrade Path
The Microsoft Ugly Holiday Sweater 2025 fits in between the 2022 model, a truly ugly affair highlighting Clippy, and the 2023 model, which depicts a pixelated rendition of the Windows XP wallpaper (a sunny hillside in Sonoma, CA), complete with cursor. The 2023 model was arguably versatile enough to be worn unironically as a regular sweater as long as you work from home and are not on a zoom call. I am wearing it now.
Press release
Yes, Microsoft issued a press release for a sweater. There was an embargo, too. The first batch sold out instantly, but it can be backordered here.
Disclosures: Microsoft sent the Microsoft Artifact Ugly Sweater for review. Or maybe it was just a holiday gift, but there was an embargo and a Devices Agreement, so I’m calling it a review unit. Microsoft is a past Techsponential advisory client, but Devices View does not accept paid posts, does not participate in affiliate link programs — even for clothing — and Microsoft had no editorial control over this article.
