10 Standout Apparel Pieces from the 2016 PPAI Expo

The whirlwind of the 2016 PPAI Expo has come to an end. The feeling in our feet finally has returned, we’ve adjusted back to Eastern Standard Time and now we’re digging through the mountain of business cards, catalogs and samples we received from both new and old friends to take stock of everything we saw last week.

Promo Marketing joined the ranks of distributors walking the floor—and then walking the floor again, and again. From retail- and fashion-inspired pieces to patterned and performance-enhancing athletic wear, the year’s upcoming apparel trends were in full view.

On the following pages, we’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite apparel finds. To view them all on a single page, click here.

How will you make a (fashion) statement for your customers this year?

If you were at the show, too, let us know which pieces stood out to you. And if you couldn’t make it this year, let us know what your customers are looking for in the comments below.

SMART Tiers Fabric from Adcapitol
Yes, sweating is a good thing—it eliminates toxins, regulates body temperature, lowers risk of kidney stones, etc.—but it doesn’t always feel good. And it doesn’t always look good, either. You know what does? This soft, multi-layered fabric that pulls away sweat from the skin to keep you dry in the midst of a workout (or a hot summer day).

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North End Ladies’ Excursion Performance Shirt from alphabroder
Some decisions are easy. If you put Colin O’Donoghue in any movie or TV show, we’re going to want to watch it. And if you put pockets on any sort of apparel, we’re going to want to wear it. Case in point: this shirt. Professional and pocketed? Yes, please!

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Women’s Poly-Cotton Crop Tank from Bella+Canvas
The first step to taking over the world is having your own hashtag, which means crop tops are well on their way to establishing their own empire. And you'll definitely want to be on their side when they do. Whether fashionistas dress it up or down, encourage them to #RockTheCrop. Resistance is futile.

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Soffee Dri Capri from Delta Apparel
Have you ever bought a new workout outfit you know you’ll want to wear just to trick yourself into sticking with your exercise routine? We most certainly have. After all, if we’re not having fun, we’re considerably less likely to keep up with our workout schedules. So, how do you mix fashion, fun and fitness? Look no further than these capris.

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Coastal Colors Collection from Hanesbrands Inc.
Well, we’re back in Philadelphia—and bracing for a potential major snowstorm. But even with the possibility of canceled plans and constant shoveling in our future, this collection makes us feel warm, happy and as if we have a splash of the sea and the springtime with us at all times.

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MV Sport Ladies’ Aubrey Knit Funnel
from Heritage Sportswear + Virginia T’s
With such extensive apparel exhibits on the floor, it was easy to forget we were at a trade show and not walking between storefronts at a mega-mall. Especially when we made it to this booth. It might not have been ready-to-wear fashion in the traditional sense, but we’re definitely ready to wear it all—including this knit we’d like to be wearing right now.

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Ladies’ Space Dye Tank from Holloway Sportswear
We never thought we’d want to run, but then we got a pair of sneakers (magical ones, obviously) that made us want to train for marathons. Just looking at this tank has a similar effect on us. We imagine if we wore our magical shoes with this tank, you wouldn’t be able to stop us from taking off on a Forrest Gump-worthy run.

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Burnside Yarn-Dyed Long Sleeve Flannel Shirt and
Weatherproof Vintage Women’s Brushed Flannel Long Sleeve Shirt
from S&S Activewear
Flannel is the real life version of the jeans from “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” Everyone looks good in it. But with so many options—these two were just a sampling of what was on the floor—each person can have their own shirt and wear it whenever they want (though we highly recommend everyone wear it at the same time, to the same place).

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Women’s Roadster Shell from Stormtech
When we look at this jacket, we can easily see the likes of Buffy Summers, Olivia Benson and Veronica Mars rocking the look. It’s a great mix of attitude, edge and vulnerability—check out those (on trend!) quilted side panels. We imagine it’ll unleash your end-users’ inner vampire-slaying, criminal-arresting super sleuths. Talk about a fierce combination.

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Mayfair Dri-Balance Polo Dress from OMNi Apparel Inc.
The classic polo shirt is a staple in the promotional products industry. We’ve seen them with different cuts, fabrics, collar types, etc.—but this is a new twist on the classic, and we kind of adore it. Not to mention, it totally skirts the whole “to tuck or not to tuck?” issue. Now the question becomes, “to belt or not to belt?”