Impressions - August/September 2024 - 18

The Ladies Three-Season Fleece is crafted from Eco-Revive material.
Photo courtesy of Augusta Sportswear
fit preference as well, so we're seeing a wide range of options from
fitted moisture-wicking fabrics to looser, oversized fits in this space
trending simultaneously. "
By way of another example, Recover is an eco-friendly brand
that produces fully recyclable apparel, including a fleece line, using
100-percent upcycled cotton and recycled PET. Recover's HyperLocal
360-degree closed-loop production minimizes waste and emissions
by keeping all manufacturing within a few miles of local communities
in the southeastern United States and Central America. The
styles' unique colors come from upcycled cotton scraps, requiring
99-percent less water than conventional dyed shirts.
American Apparel's ReFlex fleece launch also joins the sustainability
effort trend. This collection of reimagined lightweight, ultra-soft
combed ring-spun cotton-recycled poly blends is here to stay with
comparable quality at value prices. " These styles have an urban streetwear
yet collegiate vibe, hoping to tap into these emerging market
trends, " Marcantelli says. The crew neck features a customizable back
neck patch, while the hoodie offers a drawcord-free design with a
rolled-back dropped shoulder seam, adding a unique twist to these
practical staple pieces.
SUSTAINABLE STYLES
When it comes to trends, paying attention to younger buyers' eco-friendly
concerns is an excellent way of guiding your pitch choices. " Gen
Z has demanded the shift into making sustainability and ethical
manufacturing the standard rather than the exception, " Gibson says.
" Finding ways to improve and reduce the environmental impact is
at the top of every manufacturer's mind. "
Along these same lines, Russell Athletic, JERZEES, and Fruit of
the Loom are incorporating sustainability into fleecewear production
using recycled materials, eco-friendly processes, and supply-chain
transparency. JERZEES ECO Premium Blend Fleece, for example,
is a sustainable blend of 100 percent recycled polyester and USAgrown
cotton. Each garment saves at least six plastic water bottles.
" Our company is committed to having WRAP-certified facilities
and is a member of both the Better Cotton Initiative and the U.S.
Cotton Protocol, " Mejia says. Sustainability is integral to our styles,
practices, and brands. "
Augusta Sportswear also strongly focuses on using sustainable
materials in its products. " Our Eco Revive collection uses recycled
materials at a minimum level of 50 percent of the garment, " Davis says.
COLOR ME NEUTRAL
Switching gears to the color palette side of the equation, wear-with-everything
neutrals continue to trend in fleece this upcoming season,
giving consumers optimal versatility. " Heather grays in light and
dark and white, off-white, and natural bone shades are key, along
with outdoor-inspired shades, " Davis says.
Nature lovers, in particular, will vibe with trending greens and blues.
You'll also see micro trends of sage and olive, which bring a calming
feel to the neutral palette, Gibson notes. " Blue is always a must-have
color, and in the Russell Athletic DRI-POWER Unisex Hoodie, our
new Vintage Blue provides a lifestyle alternative to team-forward
royal, " Davis says. " It's the perfect dusty blue to wear year-round! "
Customers are also looking for classic colors with a twist, so expect
sophisticated color updates to popular existing hues. " In the
JERZEES ECO Premium Blend Fleece, vintage-inspired Sweet
P.18
ImpressionsMagazine.com Aug./Sept. 2024
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Impressions - August/September 2024

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