Impressions - August/September 2024 - 20

its durable dry-hand feel, oversized fi t, drop shoulders and relaxed
modern appearance without the drawcord, " she says.
Buyers also request classic items that stand the test of time and
focus on trans-seasonal lifestyles.
" Zip pullovers are increasingly important, blending the functionality
of the athletic zip neck with the easygoing comfort of a sweatshirt, "
Davis says. Augusta's 60/40 Pullover, for example, checks all
the comfort boxes at a competitive price point.
At the same time, Holloway's All-American Pullover off ers a triblend
fabric with elevated details and a retro-inspired color-blocking style.
Russell Athletic's " workhorse " DRI-POWER fl eece top styles in
crews, hoodies, full-zip hoodies and quarter-zips are all unisex, come
in various colors, and can be worn for multiple occasions.
Th ere are many fashion-forward quarter- and half-zip options to
choose from. " Wearers will also appreciate the unique styling of laceup
and corduroy circle zip pullovers from fashion-forward brands like
MV Sport and Boxercraft, " Marcantelli says.
worth the weight
With the approach of fall, fl eece is trending in a range of weights, with
heavier fl eeces most in demand. " We're seeing a mix of lightweight,
midweight and heavyweight fl eece styles, " Mejia says. " All three weights
remain popular as consumers look for various styles in their closets. "
Th e heavyweight streetwear trend, in particular, is driving the demand
for tees and fl eece. " Th e loose-fi t, oversized, urban heavyweight
vibe is especially trending within the music merch category but also
in retail across many categories and genres, " Marcantelli says. Many
brands are fulfi lling this need with 2024-2025 style off erings.
" Heavyweight fabric has been rising recently, especially with the
workwear trend driving that infl uence and already heavily used by musicians
and infl uencers, " Marcantelli says. Th is lift in the trend allows
these brands to expand their heavyweight lines and add fashion-forward
features like thicker ribbed collars and garment or pigment washes to
give off that worn-in " favorite " hoodie vibe, Marcantelli says.
From durable, hardworking options like JERZEES Super Sweats
NuBlend 9.5-ounce fl eece (ideal for warmth in colder months,)to
heavyweight streetwear-inspired '90s looks like the Holloway Classic
Heavyweight Fleece, these styles off er a variety of options to suit
every need.
Th at said, lighter and midweight fl eeces remain laid-back lifestyle
pieces that are perfect transitional options all year round. Th ese options
provide transitional comfort year-round from soft and versatile
midweights like Augusta's 60/40 fl eece to lightweight value styles like
the JERZEES Snow Heather 7.2-ounce French Terry.
Overall, it'll be essential to off er clients a variety of options. " Everything
we're seeing and hearing from clients is 'how heavy can you
go,' with 10-ounce and above is the new standard for fl eece, " Gibson
says. " Th ere's still that strong demand for mid and light weights for
more traditional brands and opportunities. "
DTF, DTG and more
on fleece
Direct-to-fi lm (DTF) transfers and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing
are hot decoration choices for fl eece this season. " Unlike traditional
screen printing, such digital methods don't require stencil setups, "
Mejia says. While DTG is best for natural fabrics such as 100-percent
cotton, DTF is strong in all fabrics, including synthetics. Both
are aff ordable and sustainable-leaning as they use water-based inks,
especially DTG, which doesn't require transfer paper. "
" Overall, DTF currently leads the way in decoration methods-
P.20
ImpressionsMagazine.com Aug./Sept. 2024
The DRI-POWER Fleece
is all about performance and
durability. Photo courtesy of
Russell Athletic
Resources
Augusta Sportswear - augustasportswear.com
Fruit of the Loom - fruitactivewear.com
JERZEES - jerzees.com
Lane Seven Apparel - lanesevenapparel.com
Russell Athletic - russellathleticbusiness.com
S&S Activewear - ssactivewear.com
giving the fl exibility of colors, locations, and ease of application, "
Gibson says. Marcantelli points out that DTF, which produces a
soft hand design in unlimited colors on the fl eece, lets decorators
take on low-quantity orders.
In addition, embroidery, chenille, patches and puff prints are trending
this season.
" Textured prints and icon patches add value and give fl eece items
a fun elevated look, " says Marcantelli, who's seeing designs with
varying degrees of minimalism, using small, embroidered decorations
on the center chest and the left hip of joggers, all the way to
bold repetitive prints on the entire back of a fl eece crew or hoodie.
" Sometimes these bold prints are coordinated with designs printed
down a jogger's front leg. "
retro reimagined
Fleecewear graphics have toned down from previous seasons. " Brands
are focused on more simplistic art and type vs. giant graphics of the
http://www.augustasportswear.com http://www.fruitactivewear.com http://www.jerzees.com http://www.lanesevenapparel.com http://www.russellathleticbusiness.com http://www.ssactivewear.com http://www.ImpressionsMagazine.com
Impressions - August/September 2024

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