PPB December 2017

Ready for anything, this 100-percent polyester performance jersey in popular heather colors has a crew neck and side seams. Shown in kelly green, it is also available in turquoise, royal, navy, grey and black. Ladies can order a more feminine t and v-neck in any of those colors, as well as red. Men’s sizes range from S-6XL, and ladies’ sizes come in S-4XL. Blue Generation PPAI 174655 www.bluegeneration.com This District Made ® Ladies Game Long-Sleeve V-Neck Tee is a home run. Showcasing raglan sleeves, classic colorblock combinations and varsity striping, this shirt is both sporty and feminine. Made of 60/40 ringspun combed cotton/polyester, it is available in ve color combinations and ladies’ sizes XS-4XL. SanMar / PPAI 110788 / www.sanmar.com | DECEMBER 2017 | 17 What’s Hot For 2018 Lay It Out In Lavender Although there will always be a place for neutrals like white and black, runways this year were teaming with two divergent color schemes: bold colors like orange, and softer pastel hues, such as lavender. Retail is also experimenting with traditionally opposing-color combinations such as red and hot pink, as well as standing by the monochromatic look. Either way, the desire for individuality while still being on-trend is sure to spark a demand for diverse colors in all palettes. “Emerging colors for 2018 are trending toward softer, organic colors like olive and army greens, sands and stone-greys, pale peaches and mauves,” says Andrea Routzahn, senior vice president, portfolio and supplier management at supplier alphabroder (PPAI 156993). “We see continued popularity in washed, coastal colors. Heathers in all colors have never been stronger as well.” On-The-Ball Designs Sports and sports celebrities continue to have a signi cant impact on fashion— particularly in athletic and leisure wear. In fact, more and more sports celebrities are rolling out their own fashion lines, including David Beckham, LeBron James, Maria Sharapova and Shaun White. Vicki Ostrom, trend editor for supplier SanMar (PPAI 110788), says she actively follows social media platforms to stay abreast of the latest popular culture in uences on consumers. As an example, she explains, “It’s worth taking note that Instagram’s teen audience has a strong interest in sports-related feeds. According to their own reporting, 30 percent of their top 100 accounts followed by teens are sports related. With that kind of opportunity, retail brands are smart to tap into the key visual elements of sport styling.” end of the t-shirt market, with our slub terry tees being a prime example. ey are designed to look both fashionable with a pair of jeans and appropriate under a sportscoat,” he explains. For 2018, VOGUE magazine even introduced a new wardrobe category: glam leisure, for those adventurous enough to pair the two paradoxical styles when transitioning from day to night. While informal dress is not exactly groundbreaking to American culture, the fact that global designers are embracing it is the real news here. After all, ever since James Dean popularized the classic white t-shirt as outerwear in Rebel Without a Cause , the t-shirt has been a beloved necessity for Americans. Now international consumers are appreciating the simplicity and versatility of the classic tee. Long story short, the t-shirt continues to be an essential wardrobe staple, with sales projected to be strong. is is great news for promotional products suppliers and distributors, since t-shirts are high-demand, low-cost and e ective repeat marketing tools.