Impressions - March 2022 - 33

towards athleisure for remote work but favors
this trend for long days back in the office.
" Whether working from home or physically
in the office, the hoodie has been anointed as
a go-to silhouette, " Sutton says.
Fashion-forward hues and natural earth
tones will accentuate the color palette of various
brands and their collections.
" I think we will see a lot of mixing
athleisure with more 'traditional' everyday pieces,
so think sports bras as tops, the perfect
layering piece under blazers; joggers that are
stretchy and stylish with stepped-up design
details; and there will be the continuing allure
of the matching sweat suit, but in fresh, moodelevating
hues like greens and pinks. "
Layering
TeeStyled offers heavyweight joggers with long
drawcords for styling and a drop-crotch fit for more
of a fashion-forward approach.
" A loose-fit garment also offers inclusivity;
it caters to a larger demographic, " he says.
Fitted styles aren't to be forgotten, however.
The success of " shapewear " has allowed the
fitted trend to remain in the fight. " It works
great in an active environment if the fabric
stretches with the wearer, " Simsolo says.
Alexis Shubin, marketing director, Lane
Seven Apparel, roots for both. " It's not about
fitted vs. loose; it's more about fitted and loose
and how you interpret it, " she says. " You've got
girls like Billie Eilish who [wear] oversized
Gucci [from] top to bottom, and then you
have Hailey Beiber rocking her oversized Drew
hoodie with a super-cute pair of bike shorts.
Or dare we even talk about the wild success
of Kim Kardashian's Skims? They both totally
work, together and separate - just know
how to rock it. "
Athleisure
Athleisure may take on a new moniker this
year: " workleisure " - a name that appears to
be synonymous with the work-from-home
generation.
" It's our new business casual, " Simsolo says.
" We continue to see matching sets and layering
and color contrasting. This will never get
old when it comes to athleisure, whether it's
crop over a sports bra or shorts and skirts over
leggings. Lastly, the use of sustainable materials
allows for affordability. These pieces are good
for printers and performance. "
The casual workforce not only gravitates
A common thread for this year's trends, layering
offers the most flexibility for men and
women. The concept of dressing seasonally
has been thrown out the window, meaning
layering possesses infinite possibilities.
" Layered looks will feature soft, draping
fabrics that let [wearers] easily layer without
bulk, " Sutton says. " Gone are the days of the
summer wardrobe and the winter wardrobe,
as so much of what we wear is considered
'three-season' apparel. We want styles that are
versatile. We know versatile means apparel we
can wear from the gym to [getting] drinks or
from work to dinner, but it also means apparel
we can wear for most of the year as we navigate
dips in the weather and indoor/outdoor
temperature swings. "
Layering clothing also can be creative and
fun, telling a story through the colors and arrangement
of the layers within the ensemble.
" An evolution of what we see in the post
work-from-home era could be an emphasis
on remerchandising of items already in people
closets, " Simsolo says. " Crop or cutout
hoodies can sit atop long sleeves and thermals.
A long-line tee can be worn beneath a sweater
and oversized zip. Items can be matched in a
minimal-tonal colorway or focused neutrals
with one 'pop-color' piece. "
Outerwear
Fleece still reigns supreme for outerwear. Forever
a classic, it has received a sustainable makeover,
keeping " the king " fresh and eco-friendly.
" Fleece is as timeless as ever and, now, with
an eco-conscious spin, " Sutton says. " Our EcoCozy
fleece is a great example of how style
and sustainability come together, with 23%
recycled polyester and fun, new silhouettes
like the Eco-Cozy fleece mock-neck quarter-zip.
Each silhouette is both practical and
stylish, with the crew, hoodies and quarter-zip
providing a classic fit with an easy dropped
shoulder for added comfort. "
A dominating force across all demographics,
fleece will remain a staple and continue to
evolve, whether it's oversized; cropped; donning
voluminous sleeves; or environmentally focused.
" Keep an eye on outdoor brands like Patagonia,
who set the bar for eco-minded apparel
and will continue to level up in innovating
not only the way we think about what our
garments are made of, but what we demand
as consumers, " Shubin says.
Bottoms
The votes are in, and it has been determined
that comfort and style are both a necessity
for consumers in this category. Companies
will continue making leggings, joggers, shorts,
etc., a mainstream apparel component that's
functional for everyday use.
" People are done with lay-around loungewear
in favor of more statement-making looks
without sacrificing comfort, " Shubin says " So,
while sweat pants, joggers and fleece shorts are
going to stay put in 2022, they will be elevated
with pops of pastels, luxe details like metal-tipped
drawcords and more fashionable fits. "
Sutton elaborates that leggings are a staple
for women and provide an excellent foundation
for layering any outfit. For men, the company
has predicted the ribbed-leg jogger will make
a comeback after taking a backseat to cuffed
legs in recent years.
" In our industry, these items have historically
been for team dealers and activewear, "
Simsolo says. " It will be interesting to see how
manufacturers, printers and promo groups merchandise
them with new ways to decorate and
print for the large customer base. " 
Matching sets will be all the rage
this year, such as this ensemble
from Next Level Apparel.
MARCH 2022
P.33
Impressions - March 2022

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