By: Cinthia Sifuentes | December 10, 2025
In today’s digital landscape, brands must work harder than ever to capture our attention, spark conversations, and connect with audiences. The best public relations and marketing strategies blend together creativity, culture, and good timing. This fall 2025 semester delivered several standout campaigns that did exactly that. These brands exemplified stellar PR by bringing excitement into students’ lives amidst homework, projects, and college activities.
Here is a closer look at the best PR moments that shaped our fall from August through November 2025.
August: Gap x Katseye
We couldn’t start this roundup without spotlighting Gap’s viral “Better in Denim” campaign. The school year kicked off with a major PR hit when the jean ad dropped on August 19. Gap’s timing was perfect with back-to-school shopping and students returning to campus. With so much buzz going around about it, the ad quickly became a fun and unexpected icebreaker for students heading into a new semester.
“Better in Denim” became a major cultural moment, showcasing how creativity and culture are essential to modern marketing. As audiences are becoming more aware of how products are sold to them online, authenticity and honest relationship-building matter more than ever. By featuring KATSEYE members, known for their individuality and diverse backgrounds, Gap delivered an original ad that resonated across many communities.
The campaign also taps into Y2K nostalgia with its use of Kelis’ iconic 2003 song “Milkshake.” The song instantly evokes fond memories for millennial and Gen Z audiences who remember the times of its peak popularity. Paired with Robbie Blue’s simple and fun choreography, the ad also created a dance moment that quickly went viral on TikTok and other platforms. Ultimately, the Gap x Katseye partnership was a huge success that drove boosts in engagement and cultural visibility for the song, the video, and the Gap brand overall.
September: NikeSkims
Kim Kardashian has repeatedly proven her marketing genius through high-profile brand collaborations and celebrity features for her SKIMS clothing line. This September, she teamed up with Nike to launch the NikeSKIMS collection, which includes seven distinct collections. The line offers 58 silhouettes and over 10,000 ways to mix and match, catering to a wide range of fashion and fitness styles.
To spotlight the collection, NikeSKIMS also released the film Bodies at Work, featuring more than 50 athletes. The cast includes collegiate stars from USC and UCLA, alongside iconic Nike athletes and Olympians such as Chloe Kim, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Serena Williams.
By featuring famous athletes and Nike ambassadors, the campaign generates excitement among both sports fans and fashion enthusiasts. The product line and accompanying film showcase a seamless blend of style, performance, and athletic excellence.
October: Fanta and The Haunted Factory
This Halloween season, Fanta teamed with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse to celebrate horror and bring thrills to life. Fanta released collectible cans featuring horror icons Chucky, Freddy Fazbear, The Grabber, Michael Myers and M3gan.
Each Fanta can included a QR code that lead to an immersive game featuring the scary personalities. Players were tasked to protect the Fanta factory from the characters that came back and “Wanta Fanta”. Participants collected coins to win exclusive prices like AMC movie tickets and vouchers. But, the fun did not stop there! Fanta also hosted a Haunted Fanta Factory live event in New York City and London from Oct 29-31. At the events, visitors were able to explore haunted houses themed after the spooky mobile game.
By creating an experience that spanned both digital and real-life engagement, Fanta brought horror fans together through a mix of nostalgia, playfulness, and interactivity. The partnerships and events were tactful by joining the Halloween fun and creating memorable moments for all audiences.
Check out the promo ad for the Fanta sodas here.
November: R.E.M. Beauty x ‘Wicked: For Good’
Wicked has defied the gravity of November, taking it by a complete storm with more than 50 brand collaborations! It is no surprise that R.E.M Beauty joined the magic, since Ariana Grande herself stars as the fabulous Glinda.
The makeup collection features both Glinda and Elphaba sets, each packed with a lip pencil, lip gloss, waterproof liquid eyeshadow, and a glitter cheek and lip stick. The pink and green are reimagined for the sequel with iridescent purple representing Glinda, and a forestry-green representing Elphaba in this brand partnership.
R.E.M Beauty also launched additional Wicked-inspired products, including the For Good Cherry Blossom Blush Palette and a “You’ve Been Glinda-fied!” fragrance and makeup set. With this collection, fans have everything they need to get wickedly glam for any occasion. Although the film doesn’t require much marketing, the R.E.M. Beauty x ‘Wicked: For Good’ collaboration is the perfect way to wrap up the Wicked magic.
December: Wrapping it Up!
This Fall 2025 semester delivered memorable pop culture and PR moments that kept students in the mainstream culture loop as they navigated studious lives. From Gap x Katseye’s viral dance to NikeSKIMS blending style and sport, Fanta turning Halloween into a full-on interactive experience, and R.E.M. Beauty letting fans get wickedly glam, these campaigns had something for everyone.
What makes these campaigns stand out is how they didn’t just advertise, but also created moments that people could join, share, and remember. These excellent campaigns remind us that the heart of PR is all about culture, community, and authentic relationships.
There’s only one month left of the school semester, and we can already hear the holiday season ringing. Let’s finish the semester strong and remember that PR is everywhere, shaping the world around us in fun and unexpected ways.