Impressions - June/July 2016 - 22

Childrenswear

Childrenswear styles are becoming more
complementary to their counterparts
in the adult sector.

BY JOHN BURNS,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ANY APPAREL manufacturers
have found that childrenswear
styles have started to mirror
apparel intended for adults.
Even so, that doesn't mean these tot- or
tween-sized options are devoid of stylish,
fashionable features.
"In the last couple of years, kids' fashion had
started following the adult styles, reflecting
adult trends and fashion," says Amit Gupta,
CEO, Monag Apparel. "Childrenswear has
continued to evolve and create a market for
kids' fashion. Even the basic tee for childrenswear is not so basic anymore. It has a slight
style to it. The kids' trends are emerging with
their own unique pattern."
And that's not just a one-off sentiment;
apparel suppliers across the board are
seeing this shift.
"Kids today like to look like and emulate
their adult role models," says Kristin Slinn,
head of merchandising, LAT Apparel. "That's
why LAT Apparel offers our fine-jersey,
vintage-heathered baseball and football styles
in infant, toddler, girls', youth, juniors', ladies'
and adult [sizes]. We brought these adult
trends down to children's sizing for great
companion, 'mini-me' dressing."
That childrenswear is becoming increasingly
similar to adult styles is just one of several
trends prevalent in the category this year.

CHANGING FABRICS

"Before, [options included] just the basic
6-ounce, T-shirt and now, [childrenswear]
is getting a little more fashion forward," he
says. "It's following the adult line a little more
than it used to. It just feels like they want a
nicer product than the basic T-shirt."
Where older versions of childrenswear -
specifically T-shirts - simply were made
with heavy cotton fabric, new options include
heathers and even tri-blends. Some suppliers say the reason for this trend is related to
simple economics.
"The change has been that people are willing to spend more money on childrenswear,"
says Grace Richards, national sales manager,
Boxercraft. "If we make something in a certain
material for an adult version, we turn around
and make it for youth. It is surprising that we
have tri-blends and other specs in youth sizes
and the price point isn't scaring people off."
Because of this demand, many companies
have completely redesigned the product category, and the way they approach it, accordingly.
"We actually have seen an increase in childrenswear [demand] and I think part of it is
because we market it differently," Richards
says. "Boxercraft has always carried youth and
adult products, but recently we have [included
a] separate youth category in our catalog."
This simply shows that childrenswear is
sustainable on its own and is too big of a category to lump in with adult apparel. Though it

TODD PROFFIT, marketing director, Alstyle
Apparel, says fabric is the main difference
between today's childrenswear and that of
the past.
P.22

I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M JUNE/JULY 2016

Boxercraft's Tailgate Jogger's
popularity started on college
campuses and has trickled
down to younger consumers.

is becoming more similar to adult
apparel style-wise, there still is a
need for tough, durable fabrics.
After all, grass stains, collisions
and spills go hand in hand with
children's garments.
"Kids are rough and tough, so
parents want a tee that is going to
stand up to their kids' playtime,"
Slinn says. "They do not want
to invest their money in something that is going to only be
able to worn once or twice. The
parents shopping today for their
children are much more savvy
and interested in the overall
quality, comfort and
safety compliance of
the clothes they buy
for their kids."

GARMENT AND DECORATION COURTESY OF LAT APPAREL, BALL GROUND, GA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ALUKA BERRY, TUCKER, GA

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Impressions - June/July 2016

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