Soften the Sell
Shah agreed that embroidery is traditional for anti-pill fleece, but suggested another option for activewear fleece. "For a brushed-back performance fleece piece, heat seal looks great and offers a more updated/active look to the garment," she said.
NEW POSSIBILITIES
So what is new in the fleece genre? Both the look and feel of fleece are changing. In terms of appearance, major retail brands are leading the way with bold colors. In addition to heathered colors expanding beyond gray, bright fleeces are gaining attention. "Folks in the promo industry are looking for colors other than the traditional black, navy and charcoal. … People want to wear current, in-style colors," Chen said. "And not just traditional bright colors, like red and purple, but new color shades that show off performance and confidence, like electric blue, lime green, deep burnt orange."
- Companies:
- Ash City USA
- Landway International
Amanda L. Cole is the editor-in-chief of NonProfit PRO. She was formerly editor-in-chief of special projects for NonProfit PRO's sister publication, Promo Marketing. Contact her at acole@napco.com.