On Friday, I attended The Imprinted Sportswear Show in Atlantic City. The show gave me a chance to see the imprinting and mechanical side of the industry. Decorators showcased their machinery and did sample imprints. Apparel and product suppliers offered their goods to showcase those sample logos. Though the show floor was packed, the mood was friendly. I heard one attendee say that this show is great because everyone is here to learn, which certainly seemed to be the case. Suppliers had long conversations with distributors about their products, and suppliers and distributors visited decorator booths to watch demonstrations. More specifically, Bella + Canvas exhibited its No-C.O.E. video, Bodek and Rhodes set up appointments with prospective clients, and VS Rhinestone Designs offered tutorials on using rhinestone embellishments.
Mary Ellen Nichols, MAS, director of marketing communications for Philadelphia-based Bodek and Rhodes thought this educational atmosphere was beneficial to the exhibitors. She noted the steady booth traffic of distributors with specific programs in mind, instead of just browsers. “Things they’re looking for are a lot of young contemporary sportswear,” she said. “We’re glad about that because we know carry the whole Next Level line of young, contemporary, hot, cool sportswear.”
Next Level’s styles and Bella’s No-C.O.E. garments are perfect for sunny spring weather. And do you know what looks awesome glimmering in the sunlight? Rhinestones. That’s where VS Rhinestone Designs comes in. Veronica Vargas, co-owner of the Wylie, Texas-based company explained how it produces rhinestone transfers. “We manufacture them in our warehouse in Wylie, Texas,” she said. The company has stock and custom designs and a wide client base. “We cater to schools. We cater to cheer teams, corporations, basically everybody,” she said. Many of the stock prints were available for purchase at the show. If you were not able to pick them up at the show, search the VS Rhinestone Designs website or try another imprinting option like screen prints. Both will look wonderful on the eco- and user-friendly cotton shirts, which are becoming the new trend (and possible mainstay) of the industry.
