Impressions - June/July 2016 - 34

"Sustainability
and value are key
components for
taking a retail
success story
and translating it
to the wholesale
market."
- Mark Seymour,
Next Level Apparel
Hanes sees pastels a
retail-influenced trend
that will affect the
wholesale industry.

MS: With social media, retail styles become
popular faster, so the need to be on-trend and
bring high-demand styles to the wholesale
market quickly is [huge].
Impressions: What are the design priorities
for a wholesale product vs. a retail product?
JE: Cost and ability to produce a best-in-class
product with consistency in large volume is of
utmost importance, but style should never be
sacrificed. In retail, there is the luxury of being
able to create a product in smaller quantities,
thus having much more room to play with
design for solely aesthetic purposes.
MH: We are very diligent with our approach in
how we design specifically for wholesale.We have
many more factors to consider: available print
area; decoration fabric testing; shrinkage; and
color fastness. Most importantly, we have to ask
ourselves, "Can this style live for several years?'"
MS: Sustainability and value are key components for taking a retail success story and
translating it to the wholesale market.
JS: For us, the key design priorities are the
same between a wholesale product and a retail product: providing quality, comfortable,
durable products - perhaps the antithesis of
fast fashion. In addition, providing products
with a superior print platform is critical in
this market.
P.34

Impressions: What future trends do you see
coming down the pipeline at retail that you
predict will have an impact on the wholesale
industry?
JE: Transparency with the consumer will continue to grow. Consumers are intensely curious
as to where their products are being made, by
whom and under what conditions. In addition, e-commerce and digital points of contact
will be increasingly important in our industry.
MH: While better basics are having a moment
right now at retail, the desire for timeless pieces with casual versatility is not going away. In
an industry of disposables, we see customers
looking for brands they can hold onto that
deliver lasting quality and style.
MS: New poly/cotton fabrics will continue
to drive retail and have an influence on the
wholesale industry. For women, we see more
demand for dolman-inspired styles. We also see
a demand for men's and women's fleece joggers.
JS: Informed consumers, especially Millennials,
want their apparel to feel good, and they want
to feel good about it, to know that it's made
responsibly. These factors will drive retail and
wholesale. We'll also see - as the athleisure
trend sprints forward - continued demand
for performance features and super-soft fabrics, including tri-blends. 

i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m JUNE/JULY 2016

With sueded, soft-hand
materials trending at
retail, Next Level just
launched the Sueded
Hooded Zip (style 6491).

http://www.impressionsmag.com

Impressions - June/July 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - June/July 2016