This year’s Impressions Expo Atlantic City, held March 21 to 23 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, was packed with decorating equipment manufacturers, apparel suppliers and other vendors with software solutions and supplies for the printwear market. Here’s a look at some major takeaways from the show.

1. Trucker Caps Keep on Truckin’

Outdoor Cap Company (asi/75420) showed off stretch mesh trucker caps.

Mesh-backed trucker caps continue to be popular among end-users, and there were plenty of styles on display in AC. It used to be, said Jamie Jeter of Top 40 supplier Outdoor Cap Company (asi/75420), that mesh caps were more of a warm-weather phenomenon to keep heads cool on balmy days. These days, however, mesh styles are a year-round outfit topper.

Jeter showed her company’s OCflx styles, which feature a stretch mesh and stretch sweatband, as well as an adjustable back. “It feels like a fitted and fits like an adjustable and doesn’t lock a distributor or decorator into sizing,” Jeter said.

The eco-friendly version of the cap includes front panels and visor made in part from Repreve recycled polyester, and the mesh back panels are 100% Repreve.

2. Oversized Silhouettes Are All the Rage

This hoodie at the Stahls’ (asi/88984) booth shows how oversized silhouettes allow for creative placement of embellishments.

Hoodies, crewnecks and even T-shirts with dropped shoulders, oversized silhouettes and heavyweight fabric were a definite trend among apparel suppliers’ booths. Part of the appeal of oversized hoodies, said Toni Sciaqua of Lane Seven Apparel (asi/66246), is “because of all the embellishments” you can add to them. The hoodie in Lane Seven’s Urban collection, for example, has an oversized hood with no seams on the front or sides, accommodating a variety of decorating techniques, she added.

Rick Strassner of AS Colour echoed Sciaqua’s sentiments. AS Colour, a supplier that originated in New Zealand but has distribution centers in California and North Carolina, offers premium blanks with superior printability. “Right now, one of the biggest trends is a little bit oversized, off-the-shoulder fits, with no drawstrings on fleece,” Strassner said. “People are looking for comfort above everything else.”

3. Clever Booth Design Gives People Something to Taco ’Bout

613 Originals got clever with their booth, transforming the space into a taco truck.

Standing out on a crowded trade show floor can be a challenge, but custom screen-printed heat transfer business 613 Originals was up to the challenge. The New Jersey company decked their booth out to look like a taco truck, giving away tote bags rolled up to look like a burrito and other taco-themed goodies – all of which were spelled out on a menu sandwich board at the entrance. Their swatch sample packs were designed to look like hot sauce packets, and there were other touches to mimic the look and feel of a thriving food truck business.

“We really leaned in,” said Steph Michael, a marketing associate at 613 Originals. “There are a ton of little details that our team worked really hard on.”

She added that their efforts paid off, with excited attendees making a beeline down the aisle to their booth. The only snag? The many people who didn’t notice the “definitely not a food truck” sign prominently displayed atop the truck and were looking for a real taco to chow down on.

“We had to make it as obvious as possible that we don’t have food, but you can get food-inspired goodies,” Michael said.

4. Direct-to-Film Isn’t a Passing Fad

The M&R Companies were demonstrating their Quatro direct-to-film machine at the Impressions Expo.

Direct-to-film (DTF) equipment was all over Impressions Expo. A relatively new technology, DTF enables decorators to print vibrant, detailed designs onto a film, apply adhesive powder and then later transfer the design – with the help of a heat press – onto a range of fabric types and even non-textile surfaces.

The M&R Companies, a decorating equipment supplier, showed off its Quatro DTF machine – so named because it represents a “fourth channel for garment decoration” after screen printing, screen-digital hybrid printing and direct-to-garment digital printing, according to Peter Walsh, executive vice president.

For M&R, he added, it’s all about providing decorators the right tool for the job. “If you’ve only got a hammer, the only job you can do is knock in a nail,” Walsh said.

He noted that M&R saw the early DTF technology and wasn’t initially sold on the idea. Though the company began developing its own solution, he added, they didn’t make it a priority as quickly as perhaps they should have done, given how prevalent and sought-after the technique has become.

“In the last 12 to 18 months, it’s become a legitimate form of decoration,” Walsh said. “We’re convinced it’s here to stay and fills a very important niche.”

5. Muted Neutrals & Beige Are Trending

Muted colors, like grays, beige and other neutrals, were popular among apparel suppliers.

Though bold tie-dyes and vibrant shades still have their place, color trends at the show skewed toward a more muted palette. “We’re seeing a lot of things still happening with core neutral colors, like sweet cream heather or beige and natural tones,” said Luis Irene of Fruit of the Loom (asi/84257). “Neutrals are now living longer. They’re becoming seasonals; they’re year-round colors.”

Andrea Lara Routzahn, chief merchant at Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063), agreed that ’70s-inspired earth tones and naturals are having a moment. “We’re starting to see beige everywhere,” she said.

Product Hub
Find the latest in quality products, must-know trends and fresh ideas for upcoming end-buyer campaigns.