I’m writing the 2012 Style Preview for our December issue. The feature gave me the opportunity to interview some of the leading apparel suppliers in the industry. I took the chance to ask them about how they thought fashion and pop culture fit into the promotional products industry. I dedicate much of what I write on this blog to tying the promotional products fashion industries together, but I wanted to see what apparel suppliers thought. See their responses below and read their advice for 2012 apparel sales in Promo Marketing’s December issue.
Mindy Anastos, VP of marketing and production planning for L.A. T Sportswear:
“You can definitely see trends from movies, music and celebrities filter down into the fashion of youth,” she said, adding that sometimes the anti-trend is cooler than the trend. “You will find ‘rebel trends’ where juniors will purposely dress the opposite of popular celebrities to stand out and differentiate themselves.”
Jessica Clifford, marketing coordinator for Kavio!:
“Fashionable fabrics, cuts, silhouettes and colors are all in demand as promotional products. The styling and look of a promotional product says a lot about a client’s brand and a more fashionable product can help a client to make a statement. Fashion says so much about who we are as the person wearing it, and it’s the same idea for the logo that’s on a fashionable style: it sends a message.”
Lauren Cocco, merchandising manager for Vantage Apparel:
“In the Promotional Products Industry, there is room for fashion-forward colors, styling, detailing and decoration.” She added that certain embellishments like laser debossed tech patches are stylish on a jacket or other outerwear.
