What's NEW

Eco-Friendly Bamboo & Organic Fabrics

Colors:  In this market, color is soft and earthy. From light blue to maize, mango and sage to the standards white and black. 

Fabrics: Bamboo & organic fabrics are soft as silk, have natural moisture wicking, are anti-bacterial, UV resistant and, of course, Eco-Friendly.

Teflon-Coated & High-Performance Fabrics

Introducing DuPont Teflon fabric protector for stain resistance in bright, vibrant colors, as well as your standard colors.

Uniforms - Executive Suiting

Colors: Move over blue, green and gray--sand, heather and periwinkle are on the way. Taking a cue from mainstream fashion, colors are getting bolder and brighter. Some manufacturers, however, are reporting a trend toward charcoal and silver in their workwear, perhaps as outfitters strive for a cleaner look.

Fabrics: Poplin and twill are the mainstays, but savvy suppliers with an eye toward user comfort are working in wicking fabrics such as DuPont Coolmax, which helps remove moisture from the body.

Details:  Whether it's special frog closures on a chef's coat or more fashion-forward construction--such as side-seam pockets and inverted pleats--on work pants, suppliers seem to have taken to heart the notion that people who feel good about the way they look just seem to do a better job.

Caps

Colors: Like a clock's pendulum, trends rise in popularity, then swing back down into obscurity only to be resurrected years later. Earth tones and muted colors such as mustard yellow and washed orange have seen new light, and royal hues such as deep purple, blue and red are also enjoying a resurgence. Old standbys--white, black and khaki--remain high on customers' request lists.

Fabrics:  A new mesh-like fabric similar to that used in athletic shorts is gaining popularity. It's not the old traditional farmer-type mesh cap that you think of.

Details:  If fashion lives and dies in a pendulum swing, the clock is ticking on some recent hot looks. The stylish sandwich bill continues its upswing, and close on its heels is the roll-up style, which takes the color of the underbill and wraps it around the bill edge. But don't rush to buy torn, heavily distressed hats. A more lightly worn look is taking its place. Precurved bills remain popular, but the severity of the curve is lessening. Embroidery on the bill is another rising trend.

T Shirts

Colors:  Although basic white dominates the market, customers still want a wide palette to choose from. Look for colors that reflect the natural environment. For instance, Baltic blue, khaki brown, and African violet is rich, but subtle. But don't dismiss vibrant tropical colors such as Fruit of the Loom's kiwi and Gildan's tangerine.

Fabrics:  No surprise here. 100% cotton T-Shirts continue to garner the majority of sales.

Fleece

Colors: Fleece has far transcended the role of functional garment and moved on up to fashion statement. And whether it's loud, funky colors such as kiwi, poppy and tangerine or more corporate-friendly shades such as polo green and sagestone, there's truly a hue to fit every personality--and workspace.

Blends: The days of 100% cotton fleece are fast becoming a thing of the past. Today, the 50% cotton/50% polyester blend reigns supreme.

Details: Speaking of a more corporate friendly look, watch for cuffs and collars to become narrower--say 1½ to 2 inches as compared to a traditional 3 inches--while hems become open and boxier. V-patches remain popular, as do ¼ and full-zip fronts. A placket front on a blouse will make it special!

Weight:  Fabric weight may ultimately be a matter of personal choice, but more likely it's dictated by regional climate. Some people prefer ultra-heavy weights such as 10 or 11 ounce fleece; others opt for lighter fabrics, especially blends, in the 7 ounce or 8 ounce category. I prefer 6.5 ounce for comfort.

-IMPRESSIONS