PPB August 2015

INNOVATE

ACKETS DO MORE THAN keep the wearer warm—they

accentuate just about any outfit, adding a certain measure of

swagger and authentic style that few other wearables can match.

Much of the design and function of the most popular jacket styles in our

closets today trace their roots back through history to a few standard styles:

varsity or letter jackets, which originated with the Harvard University base-

ball team in 1865, aviator-style or bomber jackets worn by the military

during WWII, and leather motorcycle-style jackets synonymous with

the rebellious youth culture depicted in movies and TV through char-

acters portrayed by Marlon Brando, James Dean and Henry

Winkler. Like many other apparel pieces, ladies jackets borrowed

from men’s styles throughout the 20th century and evolved to

feature self belts, pointed collars and cuffed sleeves, in bright

and bold colors and supple fabrics.

Today’s broad category of men’s and women’s jackets

available from promotional products suppliers focus

most often on the outerwear category to add a layer of

warmth, and popular styles that inject plenty of high-

tech function for the wearer as well.

“In today’s world, the expectation of what we wear

goes beyond the physical appearance,” says Elson

Yeung, director of private label design and merchan-

dising for supplier alphabroder (UPIC: BRODER). “It

used to be that outerwear clothing was either for fashion

or for function, not combined. That’s where the trend has

evolved in the recent years: the blend of fashionable designs

with the wearer’s all-day comfort is now top-of-mind.

“Now promotional apparel suppliers strive to combine func-

tionality that was once only available to athletes, into garments

designed for the office environment, warehouse space or hospitality

staff. Furthermore, it doesn’t always come in forms you’d expect: dis-

tributors are now keeping their eye out for garments that are

designed with fashion in mind, but encompass integrated function-

ality, performance and comfort.”

TINA BERRES FILIPSKI IS EDITOR FOR

PPB

EYE ON APPAREL

FASHION FOCUS

ON JACKETS

10 •

PPB

• AUGUST 2015

INNOVATE

WARM YET SO DARN COOL

BY TINA BERRES FILIPSKI