If you interacted with Next Level Apparel (asi/73867) at a trade show over the last year, chances are you saw one of its award-winning displays.

The Counselor Top 40 supplier of blank apparel won gold in the 2026 Hermes Creative Awards in the Trade Show/Exhibit Promotion category for an immersive retail-inspired booth design it unveiled earlier this year.

Next Level Apparel’s (asi/73867) open-concept, retail-inspired trade show display that earned it a 2026 Hermes Creative Award.

Its open, barrier-free 40-by-40-foot island concept – created in partnership with design-and-build firm DisplayIt – invites attendees to engage directly with garments via a retail-like experience, according to the Torrance, CA-based supplier.

“Being recognized in the Hermes Creative Awards is an honor for our team and a reflection of the thinking behind this project,” said Etienne Houseknecht, head of marketing at Next Level Apparel. “From the beginning, we set out to transform the traditional trade show experience by putting product first. Every decision … was made to reflect a more thoughtful, product-driven approach to how apparel should be experienced.”

Grounded in sustainability and modular design, the award-winning booth incorporates reusable, interchangeable parts that minimize waste while allowing flexibility across shows. Next Level Apparel exhibits at five major trade shows and approximately 15 to 20 regional shows each year, Jennifer Morales Fierros, marketing project coordinator, told Counselor in an interview earlier this year.

The Hermes Creative Awards recognize outstanding creative work across marketing and communications disciplines, celebrating excellence in concept, writing and design across traditional and emerging media. They are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, an international organization of professionals in marketing, communication, advertising, public relations and media production. This year’s competition attracted more than 6,000 entries from 29 countries.

Based on 2024 North American promotional product revenue of $282 million, Next Level Apparel ranks seventh on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry. The latest rankings are due out in July.