PPB March 2020

Best of Expo The best part about the Solar Repreve Long Sleeve tee is that it’s made from 100-percent repreve, a ber made from recycled materials. The other best part? Each shirt prevents 16 plastic bottles from entering land lls. The shirt also provides UPF50+ comfort, protecting wearers from sun exposure, and boasts a new forward-facing shoulder seam; a fact that, the company says, matches its forward-thinking supply chain and sustainability focus. Available in men’s XS-4XL in seagrass, white, pearl grey and arctic blue (shown). Vapor Apparel / PPAI 398237, S3 / www.vaporapparel.com Part of the company’s new Ultra UPF 50+ Sun Protection Collection for 2020, the Men’s Hoodie , style M1054, is made from 100-percent polyester with anti-microbial treatment to eliminate odor, along with moisture-wicking technologies. The hoodie is also lightweight, breathable and snag-resistant, for comfortable all-day wear. Available in an accompanying women’s style in white, ash and sea foam (shown). Eversole Run / PPAI 199242, S5 www.eversolerun.com polyester used in its Alternative brand with 100-percent recycled polyester, along with a larger goal of 100-percent landfill diversion by year-end. Vantage Apparel showcased its Earthwise Collection, which includes an array of shirt styles—polos, hoodies and long sleeves for men and women—made from polyester sourced from recycled consumer materials like plastic bottles. The company has also pledged to recycle enough material to equal the removal of 500,000 plastic bottles from the world’s oceans by the end of 2020—at press time, they had recycled the equivalent of 2,600 bottles. And exhibitor Threadfast Apparel introduced the Unisex Ultimate Short-Sleeve Tee, which is made from a blend of 60-percent cotton and 40-percent recycled polyester. The company is also a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, meaning that all cotton used in its products is sourced from sustainable farms that emphasize workers’ safety, advocate for women’s inclusion, care for soil health, use fewer harmful chemicals and practice sustainable water use. Another trend on the show floor included reversible and changeable apparel. During one of the fashion shows held on the PPAI Expo Live! stage, Charles River Apparel showcased one of 18 lightweight pullovers, vests, jackets and ponchos—all items are made using at least 94-percent Softex polyester—that fold into its own pouch pocket with a zipper closure. Storm Creek also exhibited products with easy-packing capacity, like the Women’s Eco- Insulated TravelPack Vest, where the garment conveniently folds into its right-hand pocket. And making a comeback this year is the ever- popular fanny pack, a wearable product that offers utilitarian functions in a fashionable— and extremely convenient—way. Supplier FitKit presented its Fit2Go Kit, a sleek black case that adjusts to fit one’s waist to hold a cell phone, keys, ID and other essentials for hands-free convenience on the move. Other fanny packs in attention-grabbing, fashion-forward styles included Foxyware/Vegas Golf’s Reverse Sequin Fanny Bag with custom logo, which is adorned in allover sequins and can be worn around the waist or as a crossbody. Let’s take a look at some of the other standout apparel and wearables showcased at Expo. | MARCH 2020 | 31