PPB October 2021

Eco-Conscious Apparel: Good, Better, Best The ongoing supply chain problems the promotional products industry is facing have resulted in a lack of available stock and inventory. If a client’s first choice isn’t available, it can be helpful to provide a few complementary alternatives at different price points. This helps them see the advantages of each choice—and also can increase your chance of making the sale. Here’s two. with casual loungewear—sweatpants paired with a Zoom-appropriate t-shirt—remaining a top trend in eco wear, according to Goodonyou.eco. Recycled and upcycled fashion. Recycled materials have long been a staple of fashion-design students and designers everywhere, and reused, recycled and reclaimed fabrication has always been a go-to for creative takes on purposeful design. Recent collections by Marine Serre and Coach showcased the use of upcycled designs on the runway, with French designer Marine Serre featuring fine leather patchwork jackets made from different- colored scraps of leather, and Coach’s (Re) Loved collection which offers a selection of “rescued” and restored handbags. And one of the longstanding pioneers in the space of sustainable fashion all around, Stella McCartney, has been designing ready- to-wear fashion since the ’90s, and offers clothing that’s made from reengineered cashmere, ethically sourced wool and recycled materials that are cruelty-free (no fur or leather), 100-percent PVC-free, and wrapped in sustainable packaging. Alternative fabrics and blends. Companies are now experimenting with how to offer sustainable fabrics on a larger scale, thus making eco-friendlier options more affordable and widely available to more consumers. From cactus leather to rose petal silk to Piñatex—a plant-based leather made from the fibers extracted from fallen and discarded pineapple leaves— alternative fabric selections are becoming more creative, and also offering companies more options that make sense for their brand and customers. There are many fabrication variations to choose from that require less energy consumption, less water and fewer chemicals. Some of the more accessible options include polyester made from recycled plastics, organic cotton, linen and hemp. Eco -Fr i end l y General client request: eco-friendly, lightweight, fleece jacket in black and/or dark grey Good, better and best solutions: 1 2 General client request: sustainably made, midweight, crew-neck t-shirt in red Good, better and best solutions: The Champion ® Double Dry Eco ® Quarter-Zip Pullover has details that include a fleece-lined cadet collar, a quarter-zip covered zipper and the “C” logo on the left sleeve. Made from a blend of 50-percent cotton and 50-percent polyester, which includes up to five-percent recycled polyester from plastic bottles. Additional features include forward shoulders and a side slash pouch to allow for full front printing. Available in S-3XL in light steel, navy and black (shown). S & S Activewear / PPAI 256121, S12 www.ssactivewear.com Made from 100-percent recycled fabric and never re-dyed, the District ® Re- Tee ® is manufactured using reclaimed materials that were otherwise destined for a landfill. A midweight, 5.3-ounce tee, its fabrication is comprised of 60-percent recycled cotton and 40-percent post-consumer recycled polyester. Additional details include a one-by-one inch rib-knit neck, shoulder-to-shoulder taping and a tag- free label. Available in XS-4XL in nine colors, shown in ruby red. SanMar / PPAI 110788, S16 www.sanmar.com GOOD GOOD 18 | OCTOBER 2021 | INNOVATE