Impressions - September 2017 - 29

Impressions: What are the biggest retail-inspired
apparel trends you currently see at wholesale?
NA: We see a lot of new bright colors, cropped
tops and a significant shift away from just
basics. Different washes and finishes on
apparel is another great trend moving into
the wholesale industry right now. There is a
significant move toward "athleisure" and
streetwear-oriented products.
AA: Some of the strongest trends we're seeing
at retail right now are a continued focus on
elevated fabrics and, somewhat related, novelty garment washes and dyes are very hot.
Mineral wash, burnout wash, and even '60s
tie-dyes, have been very strong for summer
and back-to-school.
KW: Athleisure. Tech features initially drove
it, but now the aesthetic appeal has taken over.
Mark Seymour: Athleisure, sustainability,
lightweight fleece and festival-inspired styles.
Impressions: How do you create styles that
appeal to fashion-forward end users while still
meeting decorators' needs?
NA: We have introduced new product lines
with mineral washes this year to get closer to
having a more fashion-forward product line.
In creating these styles, one of our main interests was ensuring that the printability of
the product remains intact regardless of the
processes it goes through.
AA: While retail response time for fast-fashion
continues to get compressed, a product launch
in the imprintables market takes considerable
time.Therefore, when curating our new-product
launches, we ensure that any new fashion piece
has staying power. We then focus on decorators'
need for easy embellishment and consistency.
KW: Everything is designed with an understanding of printing and decorating the final
product. Details like necklines and raglan sleeve
placement are all taken into account when
designing for the decoration space.

"I believe that a
sustainable option
must also offer
value, ﬁt current
fashion standards
and be available in
deep inventory."

KW: We always continue to strive to deliver
better quality. All Cotton Heritage products
are manufactured using combed, ring-spun
cotton and are washed using our proprietary
method to provide an ultra-soft feel. This process creates a garment with superior printability
and unbelievable comfort.
MS: We have always offered a great print surface
on all our fabrications. This is more important
today than ever with new digital-printing and
soft-hand techniques. It costs more to bring
this level of quality to the market, but over time,
Next Level Apparel has proven that customers
will embrace the better product and sell the
value to the end user.

- Mark Seymour,
Next Level Apparel

Impressions: A major trend, both at retail and
in wholesale, is the casualization of fashion, or
the athleisure movement. How do you expect
this area to change in 2018?
NA: I believe athleisure is still new and has
huge room for growth. We should be seeing a
lot of companies taking on this category with
new silhouettes and performance characteristics.
AA: The imprintables market has witnessed
an explosion of performance apparel over the
past few years as a response to a strong trend
that moved through retail, with exercise pants
and leggings replacing denim. What we will
see in 2018 is product attributes that were
previously limited to true performancewear
starting to appear in "casual fashion" - more

spandex jersey, but in relaxed silhouettes.
Polyester [will show] up in unexpected places,
and yes, [there will be] a resurgence of nextgeneration denim.
KW: We see it growing both as a technical
aspect and also from a look standpoint. It is
most noticeable in the junior market, where
the specs are loosening up.
MS: I see this as one of the most important
trends and it is influencing almost everything
we design. A great example is the new mock
twist style. We offer a men's raglan short-sleeve
and unisex pullover hoodie that will go straight
from the gym to the street, or as one customer
noted, "from the gym to the grocery store."
The athleisure trend is expected to
grow in 2018, with experts predicting
more garments that can go from the
gym to the grocery store becoming
available. Photo courtesy of Hanes.

Impressions: Recent technological advancements give decorators the ability to deliver the
retail-like, custom apparel that today's customers desire. What are you doing to help
decorators meet this demand?
NA: Lane Seven has introduced a number
of different products in 2017 that are more
aligned with today's trends. In creating these
new styles, we have maintained focus on printability. For example, our new three-end fleece
hoodie comes with a 100% cotton face, which
is perfect for DTG printing.
AA: In addition to building garments that
perform really well for both DTG and sublimation, the most important way we help
decorators meet this demand is by providing
them with retail-inspired silhouettes. We have
some surprising products coming out in our 2018
collection that continue to push the envelope.
SEPTEMBER 2017

P.29

Impressions - September 2017

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