Impressions - March 2025 - 25

hancing its appeal and utility, " Goeing said.
Lay agreed that gender inclusivity is also infl uencing womenswear
The Tess style off ers a
trends in 2025. " You will start to see more gender-neutral fi ts and
styling that consists of both typical pieces styled by men mixed with
fi tted feminine elements, " she said.
" We are defi nitely in a maximalist era. Th ink Carrie Bradshaw in
'Sex in Th e City.' More is more in 2025: layering and bold looks are
in our future. You will see more experiments and individuality with
styling, " Lay added.
Similarly, Gibson said she's seeing a kind of diversifi cation or split
between a minimalist versus maximalist era. " Either they are tight and
fi tted, like the '90s Bibi tank, or super oversized and relaxed. "
As for Goeing, she noted oversized styles are increasingly popular
overall, not just because people are buying bigger sizes, but the sweatshirts
and silhouettes are actually larger.
" Th e oversized trend in 2025 refl ects a shift toward comfort and
high-impact branding in the imprintable apparel market. Larger, relaxed-fi
t items like oversized hoodies, T-shirts, and crewnecks provide
ample space for logos and custom designs, creating memorable brand
visibility. Th ese pieces are especially appealing as they off er a universal,
unisex fi t, making them versatile to a wide audience, " she said.
On a side note, according to Goeing, this ties in a bit to athleisure,
which she said predates the pandemic but has skyrocketed after Covid,
with more and more brands coming out.
" Athleisure still reigns supreme and is not going anywhere, but it
has gone from working out to wearing it to work on the weekends, to
running errands. Wearing it out has become such the norm attire, " she
said. Because people can work from anywhere, this parallels the trend
of women wanting elevated basics and comfort-driven silhouettes.
" Th ese items come with a strong focus on moisture-wicking, quickdry,
and odor-resistant fabrics. Branded items like joggers, zip-up
jackets, and moisture-wicking polos off er comfort and practicality,
especially for outdoor events, team-building activities and corporate
wellness initiatives, " Goeing added.
" Spring 2025 will usher in a move toward new-bohemian and romantic
silhouettes. From SanMar, you'll see this come through in soft sleeve
shapes, subtle shirring details and feminine necklines, " said Carton.
Fabric Blends and Textures
Cotton, especially organic cotton, is going to be popular, which is consistent
with the previously mentioned sustainability trend. Brumer noted
that RPET blends (recycled polyethylene terephthalate), made from recycled
plastics and other materials that are blended with organic cotton,
are growing in popularity as well. Other fabric blends include organic
cotton blended with viscose bamboo and tri-blends.
" Subtle textural interest is a common theme when we look at 2025
styling. From fi ne linear ottomans to sub-fabrications, baby ripstop, and
oxford piques, we've injected playful textures to give new dimension to
core silhouettes, " said Carton.
Gibson said that ribbed and micro-ribbed are the textures that will
be popular in 2025. She added that fashion choices are more about fi t
and weight versus fabric, and next year there will be an emphasis on
heavyweight.
Goeing agreed, predicting heavyweight styles have been and will
continue to be huge. "
Almost every single main brand we carry has a heavyweight style, "
Goeing said. Th is ties in to customers seeking durability and comfort in
what they wear. She also noted that these types of heavyweight pieces,
like hoodies, sweatshirts, and oversized Ts, are inspired by streetstyle
and skate culture.
Beyond that, Watson said corduroy is going to be a dominant texture.
" We've seen it across the board. If you pair it with a mesh back,
it makes it a year-round fabric. It used to be a fall holiday fabric but
now it's a trend. "
Other trends are tech-integrated fabrics and smart fashion, like mosquito
repellants built into the fabric or those that provide UV protection
or have antimicrobial properties.
Vintage/Retro
Th e '90s are back in vogue and appear to be an ageless decade, as the '90s
retro look seems to be hanging on. " Th at means butterfl ies, big prints
and low-rise jeans, " said Lay.
Vintage black, or faded black will be dominant, which also ties into
that neutral trend, added Gibson.
Other vintage-inspired trends over the past few years, which will still
be present in 2025, include bomber jackets, old vintage T-shirts, and
ringer T-shirts. " I was at a street festival in downtown Chicago, and every
single vendor had vintage T-shirts; some people were paying $100 for
them, " said Goeing. Th e buyers for these vintage styles are often Gen
Z, who are, of course, the primary trendsetters.
A Demand for Quality
On the downside, as we get deeper into 2025, some companies will likely
start to see a downslide to today's trends, among them, fast fashion
and lower-quality garments. " Consumers would rather thrift an item
than buy a low-quality, poorly made, cheap piece of clothing. Women
will be searching for staples that last in their closets instead of the onetime
wear, " said Lay.
Another thing that is waning is the " retail fi t " T-shirt, which Gibson
described as being akin to a lightweight fi tted unisex T, in light of
the ongoing transition to an oversized, relaxed fi t and heavier weights.
Th at said, overall, trends are slowing down, observed Goeing. " Much
of what we have been seeing have been trending; people are slowing
down and making trend last longer, which is better for the consumer,
because there is less that you have to buy. " 
Hilary Daninhirsch is an award-winning freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. Her
work has been featured in a number of lifestyle and trade magazines. She can be
reached at hdaninhirsch@gmail.com or hilarydaninhirsch.journoportfolio.com.
March 2025
P.25
trendy, modern take on your
traditional mesh cap. Photo
courtesy of Infi nity Her
http://hilarydaninhirsch.journoportfolio.com
Impressions - March 2025

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