Waterfront Living 2024 - 23

Above: Light-up Sandals. Mud Pie.
Right: Water Blasters. Mud Pie.
R
ecreational boating gained popularity during
the COVID pandemic and has remained popular.
According to the National Marine Manufacturers
Association (NMMA), recreational boating saw a 35%
increase in annual economic activity between 2018 and
2023, from $170 billion to $230 billion.
It's not the yacht owners that are responsible for the
uptick in the boat economy, NMMA reports, saying
that the majority of boaters are " regular folks " doing
activities such as fishing, water-skiing, sailing and
jet-skiing.
Whatever your customers' boating activity, present
them with the essentials for the day.
BOATING IN STYLE
A long day on a boat requires apparel for a range of
activities - from a dip in the water to sweaters to stay
warm when the sun sets.
The go-to outfit for a boating day is a swimsuit,
especially for kids. Lauren Brekke, Mud Pie's vice
president of merchandise, said parents want stylish
bathing suits and water toys for kids to keep them
entertained and looking cute.
Mud Pie's bathing suits for kids feature fun colors and
patterns with aquatic animals like fish, ducks, crabs
and crocodiles, and can be accessorized with light-up
sandals featuring mermaids, flags, turtles and sharks.
For women, Mud Pie's crochet cover-ups have been
popular since the textile is on the upswing.
" People want the illusion of coverage while still
feeling cool and comfortable in the heat, and crochet
achieves that, " Brekke said, adding that people
appreciate versatility in coastal apparel. " We see people
buying fewer items, but are choosing those that serve
more than one purpose. " One example is Mud Pie's
Milton Crochet Tunic, which can be used as a cover-up
but also styled over jeans for a casual dinner look.
Town Pride also offers an extensive variety of
coastal products for functionable boating fashion.
Jean Fasanello, vice president of sales at Town Pride,
said its collection includes knit sweaters and apparel,
quarter zips for men, scarves, wraps, ruanas, hats, caps,
pillows, totes, crossbody bags and throws.
" Our clients choose their colors and icons and add
any word. Most use their city, state, town, yacht club,
lake name, beach, etc., " Fasanello said. Town Pride also
offers generic terms on products: Lake Day, Sail, Beach,
East Coast, West Coast and more.
Fasanello said stripes are dominating the trends right
now. This past spring, Town Pride added a striped
collection, which includes a fully striped sweater,
pencil-stripe sweater, colorblock sweater, wraps and
ruanas - which can all be customized.
Fasanello said many of its coastal stores are adding the
company's new embossed jacquard collection in tan.
Icon sweaters also continue to trend, as well as throws,
pillows, caps and totes. Fasanello said clients' favorite
icons include anchors, suns, lobsters and oysters.
Both Mud Pie and Town Pride identify a trend of
patriotic apparel.
" Red, white and blue apparel is classic and is always
trending, " Brekke said.
Town Pride meets this trend with its USA flag
sweaters. Everything at Town Pride is made to order so
clients can choose traditional red, white and blue - or
add alternative colors such as denim blue, tan or pink.
GIFTSHOPMAG.COM 23
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Waterfront Living 2024

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