PPB March 2019

1 Custom-made, custom-requested clothing, which includes made-to- measure and bespoke pieces 2 Green through all stages of design, development and production 3 High grade and timeless design to ensure longevity of wear 4 Just and ethical manufacturing and production practices, including adherence to human and animal rights and the use of conventional, artisanal production methods when possible 5 Restoration, redesign and upcycle of purchased goods for continued wear 6 Rent, loan and swap programs for extended use of items 7 Secondhand clothing and vintage-look apparel , keeping the old-school vibe alive, recycling lightly worn clothing and upholding the timeless quality Fashiontech. There’s no end in sight to the tech industry’s range of influence, and this includes tech-infused apparel. This may include clothing designed to accommodate tech products, like laptop cases and backpacks designed for gamers, touchscreen gloves and LCD hats. Retailer brand Inlighten, based in Costa Mesa, California, caters to the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, for instance, with its washable, color-changing garments featuring fiber optic technology, enabling the wearer to change the color of their apparel—which includes bomber jackets, bikini tops, hoodie vests and ties—using a mobile phone app, or by setting it to react to the beat of surrounding music. Going forward, look for user-friendly, interactive apparel—along with other ways that tech is infiltrating fashion, like with artificial intelligence and blockchain. And don’t forget about wearable tech gadgets. The top gadgets in 2019, according CNET , will include these new iterations of smartwatches: • Apple Watch Series 3 • Fitbit Versa • Amazon Bip • Garmin Vivosport • Huawei Watch 2 LTE Standout Shades. A fresh spectrum of color choices was evident in the products displayed at Expo. Promo apparel is no longer shown in the standard black, white and grey options, but rather, companies are adding vibrant hues, like coral, seafoam green, periwinkle and canary yellow. Each year, the Pantone Color Institute publishes its Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report, which, reviews the top colors showcased at New York Fashion Week to determine the most popular selections. For Spring/Summer 2019, Pantone anticipates the top colors to include varying shades of orange, yellow and pink, as well as royal blue and toffee brown. Aflex , a division of AKWA Apparel, is offering high-quality women’s leggings with a hidden phone pocket. This made-in- the-USA product is available for customization with your brand’s logo, mascot or theme, with only a 12-piece minimum order. Decorating areas include the side panel, hip panel and back inside label. Available in full length or capri in women’s XS-2XL. To coordinate with the leggings for a full look, tees and accessories are also available. AKWA / PPAI 205981 / www.akwa.com Winning Looks Showcased At The 2019 PPAI Expo These ties not only hit the mark—but they hit the ball out of the park with their spot-on, custom designs. Described not only as an accessory, but as a work of art, wearers can look sharp—and hip. In addition to its allover design, custom tags and packaging are available to keep the brand message going. Shown here are designs created for Staples Promotional Products for the Coca-Cola brand. Diane Katzman / PPAI 396045 / www.dianekatzman.com | MARCH 2019 | 15 INNOVATE