Promotional products trade shows can double as fashion shows. Distributors who sell apparel, or those who are looking to start, can walk the show floor looking at what apparel suppliers have on display just like a high-fashion designer would at a runway event.

ASI Show Chicago offered insight into what sorts of styles and fits end-users are looking for in their promotional apparel, and how small changes continue to evolve basics like T-shirts and outerwear.

Thinner Fabric, 2000s Aesthetic

Boxier fits and thick fabric are still popular options for items like T-shirts, but as retro appeal moves to the mid-2000s, suppliers are incorporating thinner fabrics and tighter fits for tees, reminiscent of the ones you’d find at retailers like Hollister or American Eagle in, say, 2004.

Makai Swanson, trade show coordinator for Los Angeles Apparel (asi/67971), said that apparel made with its cheesecloth fabric, which is a thinner material than other pieces, is starting to gain traction.

The Cheesecloth Long-Sleeve Fitted T-shirt (CC307) from Los Angeles Apparel (asi/67971) fits into a retro trend that harkens back to the early 2000s.

“It’s a bit sheer, has a lot of stretch to it and we’re able to dye it as well,” Swanson says.

As early 2000s trends return, so too does the prevalence of the zip-up hoodie. Pullovers and crewnecks are still cozy options, but zip hoodies are making a comeback, too.

Name-Brand Quality Outerwear

T-shirts ranked number-one on ASI’s Ad Impressions Study of preferred products, with 55% of recipients saying that they would be most excited to receive one. But, jackets and outerwear weren’t far behind with 52%. A quality piece of outerwear or fleece can make a statement with a high perceived value.

Incorporating premium brands like The North Face and MiiR, as seen on chic layering pieces like the MiiR Women’s Sashiko Stretch Puffy Vest (MRAW442) from Counselor Top 40 supplier SanMar (asi/84863), elevates a promo campaign, and the co-branding with the household name elevates the perception of your customer’s brand.

Premium brand pieces like the MiiR Women’s Sashiko Stretch Puffy Vest (MRAW442) from Counselor Top 40 supplier SanMar (asi/84863) become wardrobe staples and impress end-users.

Cozy Thermals

Patty Contreras, key account manager for Counselor Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867), said that layering options like thermal long-sleeve shirts are all the rage right now.

“People want something lightweight, and you can wear it to work out or as a piece of leisure wear or corporate wear,” she said.

Contreras said that, specifically, the supplier’s “baby waffle” weave, which is smaller than other waffle weaves on thermals, allows for greater customization through screen print or embroidery.

End-users can layer with items like the Ideal Thermal Long-Sleeve (8211) from Counselor Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867).

Small Features

There are subtle ways to make a piece of apparel just a little more special. Henley T-shirts, which have just a few buttons on the collar, are back in fashion and a smart way to make a T-shirt promo a little more “buttoned up,” so to speak.

The Men’s Short-Sleeve Henley (DESC) from Wear It To Heart brings the comfort and casual look of a T-shirt but with a slightly more formal and special quality.

Whatever the apparel campaign entails, ranging from a basic T-shirt to a smart layering piece to a high price-point jacket, the key is to find something that fits the trends of the moment, whether it’s fitted looks reminiscent of the new millennium, or corporate-ready outerwear that would impress any end-user.

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