MARKET SHARE OnlyMurders InThe BuildingMakes Promo Hoodie APotential Clue With a branded hoodie serving as a key plot point in the Hulu mystery series, we polled industry apparel experts on the sweatshirts end users would kill to receive. Hoodies are hot and hit multiple trends, including comfort, athleisure, hip-hop fashion and Y2K nostalgia. With cozy coverage for your head and warm pockets to stow your hands or stash your stuff, what’s not to like? In fact, a hoodie is a featured plot point in Season 2 of Hulu’s Emmy-nominated show, Only Murders In The Building. Neighbors and murder mystery podcasters Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short) and Charles (Steve Martin) have been unraveling mysteries since season one. Soon, die-hard fans were waiting outside their iconic building, The Arconia, selling merch and cheering them on. That merch eventually makes the trio prime murder suspects when the building’s board manager, Bunny Folger, is found murdered – in the pink tie-dye promo hoodie she was just given. Unlike Bunny’s cold-blooded murder, the right hoodie can feel like a warm hug – and this American classic is nearing a century in fashion. (Champion created the first hooded sweatshirt in the 1930s!) These days, the humble hoodie has made its way into luxury fashion as well. As MaryKate Boylan and Sarah Adams of Town & Country put it, “Don’t be afraid to get comfortable!” Hoodies are definitely hot – and hard to keep in stock, says Melissa Pope, president of Georgia-based distributor Branded Expressions. Order now for winter and spring, she advises. “Hoodies are available right now, but I’m not expecting them to be for long,” Pope says. “Inventory has been a huge issue for the last year and a half, and hoodies are very popular. I’m telling everybody to order sooner than later.” To choose the right hoodie, consider the client, the wearer and the season, she adds – heavier weights for winter, lighter for spring. Here are some fresh hoodie trends your clients will be dying to wear this winter: You can’t go wrong with the original. This Premium Cotton Fleece Pullover Hoodie provides cozy comfort with lowmaintenance jersey fleece, plus a jerseylined hooded neck and a flat drawstring. Big, bold graphics are in style, so don’t be afraid to make a statement with your logo in the 6-inch square decoration area. Vantage Apparel / PPAI 113235, S10 / www.vantageapparel.com DIY tie-dye became a favorite pastime for many during the pandemic. With the one-two punch of nostalgia and the bright colors dazzling runways and jazzing up everyday outfits, tie-dye is definitely still on trend. The Port & Company Men’s TieDye Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt is both colorful and comfortable. Available in S-4X and nine color combinations from neon rainbow to black-and-white. SanMar / PPAI 110788, S16 www.sanmar.com Soft, cozy textures are hotter than ever, and the lightweight, super soft, LAT Adult Harborside Mélange French Terry Hoodie plays with texture, using both sides of the fabric. The reverse loop texture on the sleeve cuffs, hood opening, pocket opening and bottom band contrasts gently with the darker body, sleeves and hood for a fresh, finished look. The unisex garment comes in XS-3X and 10 colors. LAT Apparel / PPAI 254347, S4 www.latapparel.com 66 | OCTOBER 2022 | THINK
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==