How to Add Sub-Collection Navigation to Shopify Collections

Shopify collections are flat. There is no built-in way to place one collection inside another.

This means when a customer lands on a collection such as "Men's Shirts", they often see a large grid of products with no obvious way to browse by type. Long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, overshirts, and formal shirts all appear together unless the store owner creates additional navigation.

While Shopify does not support nested collections, it is still possible to add clear navigation between related collections. This guide explains how Shopify collections work, the common approaches merchants try, and how to create sub-collection style navigation on collection pages.

Why Shopify Collections Are Flat

Some ecommerce platforms organise products using hierarchical categories. A category can sit inside another category, creating a structure such as:

Shopify uses a different model.

All collections exist at the same level. Products can belong to multiple collections, but collections cannot contain other collections.

For example, a shirt product might belong to:

• Men's Shirts
• Long Sleeve Shirts
• Summer Collection

Each of these is simply another collection rather than a nested category. This system is flexible, but it means Shopify does not automatically provide sub-category navigation on collection pages.

When Stores Need Sub-Collection Navigation

Many stores organise products in ways that customers expect to browse hierarchically. Examples include:

Without navigation between these groups, customers must either scroll through large product grids or rely on filters.

Common Workarounds for Sub-Collections

Because Shopify does not support nested collections directly, merchants often use alternative approaches.

Mega menus

Many stores place sub-categories in their header navigation using a mega menu. This works well for discovery from the homepage, but it becomes less useful once a customer is already browsing a collection page. The navigation disappears and the customer returns to a large product grid.

On mobile devices this issue is more noticeable because many users do not reopen the menu while browsing.

Filters and tags

Shopify filters allow customers to narrow results using product attributes such as size, colour, or tag. Filters are useful, but they behave differently from navigation. They modify the current collection view rather than guiding customers to a curated collection page.

Filters also depend on consistent product tagging across the entire catalogue.

Custom Liquid development

Developers sometimes add custom navigation elements directly to the theme using Liquid templates. This can work well, but it ties the navigation to theme code. If the store changes themes or updates templates, the navigation may need to be rebuilt.

For many merchants this introduces extra maintenance over time.

Linking Collections to Create Sub-Collection Navigation

A practical way to create sub-collection style browsing is to link related collections directly on the collection page.

Instead of hiding navigation inside menus or filters, the links appear above the product grid where customers are already looking.

For example, a "Men's Shirts" page could include links such as:

Each link leads to a separate Shopify collection. This approach keeps each category as a normal collection with its own URL, description, and search visibility.

Example Structure for a Clothing Store

A clothing store might organise collections like this:

Each of these is a separate Shopify collection. The navigation simply connects them so customers can move easily between related groups.

Display Options for Sub-Collection Navigation

Navigation between collections can be displayed in different ways depending on the type of store.

Text pills

Text pills display the collection names as compact labels above the product grid. This approach works well when the category name clearly communicates the difference. For example, long sleeve or slim fit does not require an image to understand.

Text pills are also easy to scan and work well on both desktop and mobile screens.

Image cards

Image cards combine a collection image with a label. This layout works well when the visual style of the category matters. Occasion based categories such as wedding outfits or summer dresses can benefit from imagery.

Image cards can also help highlight seasonal collections or curated ranges.

Adding Navigation with Collection Paths

Collection Paths is a Shopify app designed to add this type of navigation directly to collection pages.

The app allows merchants to link related collections together and display them above the product grid.

Because it uses Shopify app blocks, the navigation can be added through the theme customiser without editing theme files.

Merchants choose a collection, select the collections they want to link to, and choose how the navigation should appear. Navigation can be displayed as text pills or image cards depending on the layout of the store.

How to Set Up Sub-Collection Navigation

Setting up collection navigation typically takes only a few steps.

1. 1 Install the Collection Paths app from the Shopify App Store
2. 2 Open the Shopify theme customiser
3. 3 Navigate to a collection template
4. 4 Add the Collection Paths block to the page
5. 5 Select the collections you want to link together
6. 6 Choose the display layout and save

Once saved, the navigation appears above the product grid on the selected collection pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Shopify does not support hierarchical collections, but merchants can still create clear browsing paths between related product groups.

Linking curated collections together on collection pages provides a structure that feels natural to customers while remaining easy to manage.

For stores with larger catalogues, this approach can make navigation clearer and help customers find the products they want more quickly.