The classic tri-blend shirt, cropped hoodie, and dad cap are just some of the trending apparel staples from the last few years. Going into 2024, promotional products distributors can expect a lot of the same, but there are some other heavy hitters worth mentioning. Make sure you have a supplier on hand when requests start rolling in for the latest staples.
Style No. 1: Garment-Dyed Heavyweight T-Shirts
For that worn, lived-in look, Ken White, vice president of sales at Commerce, California-based Cotton Heritage, says the company’s Garment Dye Short Sleeve, style OU1690, is one to consider.
“Garment dye tees have a soft, broken-in feel from the start,” White says. He notes that Cotton Heritage is able to achieve this without compromising on color. “The garment dye process gives the tee a relaxed, vintage feel. We say, ‘It feels like vacation.’”
The style is an elevated option beyond the basic T-shirt distributors can offer their clients, he adds. In a 5.5-ounce weight, the T-shirt comes in on the heavier side, answering the demand for heavyweight fabrics in the market. Offering a range of colors, White says distributors and their customers can pair artwork with ease, highlighting a brand or event they’re promoting “in a compelling way.”
“It has a great soft hand, as well as vintage-inspired details in the stitching and a locker loop,” he adds. A garment-dyed shirt works well in the resort market, for surf and skate needs, and restaurant chains, as well as college bookstores and Greek life.
Overall, White says consumers want quality. “Customers, specifically promotional product distributors, are looking for garments that will print, wear, and wash well,” he says. “Brands know that the more their customers wear the shirts, the more impressions the brand receives.”
Garment-dyed pieces can convey that quality, lifestyle, and attitude that a brand looks for to deliver their message to customers, he adds.
Style No. 2: Pigment-Dyed Streetwear
Milissa Gibson, sales director at Irwindale, California-based Lane Seven Apparel, also sees trends leaning toward heavyweight garments. Specifically, the company’s Urban Collection, which features a hoodie, crew, tee, and sweatpants.
Featuring 10-oz. cross grain fabric, the collection comes in a variety of neutral pigment-dyed colors like oil green, peanut butter, and pebble blue to name a few.
“It gives it a soft and broken in feel – the vintage look is everything,” Gibson says.
Like garment-dyed pieces, pigment-dyed garments work for many verticals from corporate and religious groups to retail, music, and universities.
“Sororities and fraternities are always looking for something they are seeing in retail, which you’re seeing this style all over every type of retail,” she explains.
And it’s not just about neutral colors in soft washes. A trending garment is all in the details, and Gibson says the Urban Collection has the features a distributor and their clients are looking for.
“A hood with a panel that stops 3/4 forward so you can get a full imprint on the hood; a drop shoulder on the crew, hoodie, and T-shirt, and oversized fit,” she lists. “The sweatpants feature a total of five pockets with an interior zipped pocket on each side and a back pocket, metal tipped drawcords, and no side seam on the outside of the leg giving you a clean imprint area.”
Style No. 3: Eco Options
The topic of sustainability and environmentally conscious business practices isn’t going away anytime soon. Having sustainable apparel options isn’t a debate — distributors need to have go-to eco-friendly styles to present to their customers when it makes sense. Do you have a renewable energy client looking for employee merch, or a gym looking to outfit staff? That’s when sustainable options can make sense.
Stephanie Bennett, senior merchandising manager at Sharon, Massachusetts-based Charles River Apparel, says the company’s Heathered Eco-Logic Stretch Quarter Zip is popular among corporate clients more often than retail or team partners.
This eco quarter zip is a “must-have” for clients because it’s made from 44% Repreve recycled polyester, plus spandex for a comfortable fit. “End-users are looking for items they can wear from work to the gym, and this fits the bill,” Bennett says.
“Overall, the sustainable apparel segment within promotional products is likely to continue growing as consumers prioritize ethical and environmentally friendly options. Innovation, transparency, and collaboration will be key drivers shaping the future of this segment.”
Businesses looking to make a change and integrate sustainable practices into their marketing and business strategies may turn to apparel as one way to represent those efforts, and you want to be able to offer a solution.
Style No. 4: Performance Headwear
In the promotional products world, “wearables” doesn’t just mean apparel — hats are a big piece of the market.
In the headwear category, Rhyen McFarland, communications and engagement strategist at Fredericktown, Missouri-based Cap America, says distributors need to present perforated performance caps to their customers, like the i8533 Flexfit 110 snap-back.
“This style has been made popular by Melin, a high-end retail brand,” McFarland explains. “The perforated back has a higher perceived value than traditional trucker mesh, but it’s still cool and comfortable, offering sought-after breathability.”
Similar to consumers looking for quality apparel, McFarland says the same goes for headwear. Quality wearables very obviously coincide with sustainability. The better the product, the more likely a consumer will keep it for years to come, reducing the global textile waste issue. “Higher-end products have more longevity, and therefore a better ROI and also reduce waste,” she notes. “These products are not going to end up in a landfill after just one or two uses.”
Not only can this style work extremely well in the golf market but industries where business might take place on the course. “Think C-suite execs,” McFarland says. Beyond the course, it also works well within fitness for its moisture-wicking and UV protection features.
