ASI Canada spoke with Spencer Linwood, Western Canada’s director of sales for alphabroder (asi/34063), at PPPC’s National Convention, where the industry’s largest supplier featured its new apparel styles available in Canada and the U.S. for the fourth quarter.

“It’s the most robust fall launch since alphabroder acquired Ash City in 2014,” said Linwood. “It includes more than 130 new garments. We wanted to build out a collection for the fall because we’re competing in that space with a lot of other brands.”

Here are three things to know about the new styles.

1) The North End line was relaunched.

Alphabroder has added completely new styles to its North End line, including puffer jackets and vests, and designed updated pieces based on the most popular styles.

“Puffers are seen as a huge value garment by people who wear them,” said Linwood. “Most are stitched horizontally, which helps them retain their shape but doesn’t offer much flexibility. Ours are stitched vertically so they move with you.”

(From L to R) The Men’s Pioneer Hybrid Vest (NE709), Ladies’ Pioneer Hybrid Bomber Jacket (NE710W) and the Flux 2.0 Full-Zip (NE712), all from the North End line.

They’ve also added midlayers that feature lighter weight with additional warmth. The Flux Melange Bonded Fleece Jacket (88697) has been such a fast seller, said Linwood, that alphabroder designed and launched the Flux 2.0 Full-Zip (NE712), with more technical features, an updated fabric construction and more comfort for the wearer.

2) Retail partners now offer more styles.

“Columbia Sportswear has been a tremendous partner of ours,” said Linwood, “and they dialogue with us about what would work in this market.” New styles for the fall include the Powder Lite line of jackets and vests and the Half-Zip Fleece Jacket (1620191).

The Columbia Men's Powder Lite Hybrid Jacket (1864631) features a reflective lining and adjustable hood.

And in a partnership announced last month, PUMA now offers styles designed exclusively for alphabroder, including apparel, caps and bags, in Sport and Golf lines. In addition, Spyder, a high-end niche outdoor brand, offers 35 styles to the promo market via alphabroder, including technical full-zips, puffer vests and polos.

Styles from PUMA Sport and PUMA Golf include performance polos, vests, full-zips, track jackets, headwear and bags.

The Spyder Pelmo Puffer Vest (S16642) features an active fit and a detachable hood with bungee cord.

3) The fashion basics line has expanded.

Alphabroder now carries new fashion styles from Threadfast Apparel (asi/91163), Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867), Bella+Canvas (asi/39590) and Champion (asi/59528), including ringer T-shirts and hoodies. “We have their trendiest, best styles,” said Linwood. “We had to get a bigger booth at Nat Con this year to be able to feature all the new styles, and we gave it a retail feel. It’s a complete rethink of how we’re going to market.”

New fashion basics ringer tees and hoodies from Champion and super-soft full-zip fleeces from Next Level.

With reported 2018 North American promotional product revenue of $1.64 billion, alphabroder ranked first on Counselor’s latest list of the largest suppliers in the industry.

For more details on the new styles, head to alphabroder.com or alphabroder.ca.

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