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Strategy

Trend Lessons From New Fresh Prince Collection

Actor Will Smith’s limited-edition line, Bel-Air Athletics, is filled with retro-inspired 1990s styles that promo pros should keep an eye on.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is back with some retro 1990s-styled branded merchandise that heralds a few fashion-forward trends promotional products pros could do well to check out.

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I put my thang down, flipped it and reversed it. Then I put it on sale. NEW @FRESHPRINCE MERCH! Link in bio

A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith) on Oct 1, 2019 at 9:13am PDT

Called Bel-Air Athletics, the limited-edition line from Will Smith is inspired by gear the mega star wore while playing the title character of the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Earlier this year, Smith released a different ’90s-retro collection of Fresh Prince gear. It’s all part of a broader trend in retail and branded merchandising – namely, a fond reimagining of 1990s apparel that younger audiences are embracing. Everything from the reemergence of scrunchies to *NSYNC capsule collections are part of the style movement.

Anyhow, here are some particular looks from the collection to take note of – and how they might apply to your promo products sales.

The Unstructured Flat Bill

The “Dribble Drive Will” six-panel cap has style elements that will appeal to end-client audiences in markets that range from music and extreme sports, to craft breweries, colleges and startup/technology firms with younger and/or urban workforces. For sure, the unstructured, flat bill look checks the still-hot laid-back “dad hat” box. Furthermore, the small, cartoon-style embroidery is a feature brands courting Gen Z and younger millennial audiences might want to incorporate into merch.

Reactive Tie-Dye Throwback Tee

Tie-dye just keeps getting hotter – as Counselor has previously detailed. High schools, colleges, fraternities, sororities, summer camps, vacation destinations, outdoor recreational businesses, musical acts, ice cream parlors, preschools – these are just some of the end-clients increasingly investing in the style. Will Smith taps into – and gives further credence to – the trend with this tie-dye tee that features a back-in-the-day photo of himself as a basketball star. What’s additionally notable is the heat-reactive tie-dye, which changes color with body heat. Talk to vendors about their ability to provide heat-reactive tie-dye. Being able to deliver the color-shifting shirts to clients could give you a leg up on the competition.

Reversible Jacket

This track jacket can be worn with either the navy side or paisley pattern as the exterior. The jacket has proven so popular that Smith’s website notes that orders will ship in six to eight weeks, as opposed to the initially anticipated three to four. That tells you something: The look is sizzling hot.

Admittedly, it won’t be for every client, but for brands that want to communicate a truly in-the-now, on-style vibe, this type of reversible vintage-sparked track jacket could be just the thing. To name a few, end-clients could include: Adult beverage brands, legal cannabis-related firms, musical artists, gamers and streamers, gaming companies, nightclubs, skate/surf brands, higher-end tattoo artists/shops, custom vehicle businesses, new-school barbershops, mobile app development firms and other tech companies. Indeed, be sure to suggest the reversible outerwear to technology clients. After all, a reversible jacket was one of the choicest pieces of swag at Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference earlier this year.