Impressions - February 2016 - 26

of the body. SanMar features this framed idea in a knit polo, the Sport-Tek Micropique
sport-wick piped polo. We also have a new Port Authority textured camp shirt that
features piping to frame the ladies' center front placket and the top pocket edge on the
men's style."
As for popular colors, the brighter they are, the better for plackets. For wovens, there's a
different strategy.
"For placket shirts, bright colors such as lime green, safety yellow, bright fuchsia, ocean and
sky blue [currently are popular]," Crow says. "For wovens, plaids in every color are trending,
and then for solid wovens, it's still the neutral colors that sell the best."
Perez agrees that it's best to keep things simple with woven colors.
"Basics like white, black, navy, gray, are always popular because they match up well with
end users' programs," he says.

MARKETING TO CUSTOMERS

S&S Activewear carries
the Weatherproof vintage
line of plaid wovens in
2015, indicating a trend
in the category.

There are numerous different groups primed
to consume decorated plackets and wovens.
Retailers, golf and tennis teams and clubs,
corporate clients, landscapers, bars, casual
restaurants and even car dealerships are obvious
places to start, Crow says.
She adds that selling techniques include
displaying samples for potential customers to
show how impactful the garments can be. For
example, show a plaid with an allover print on
the back of the shirt.
"[The shirt] becomes a dynamic message
vehicle rather than just the standard, serious
button-up," she says.
Crow cites an example of PGA Tour golfers
who wear bright placket shirts with printed
designs and logos, and says decorators should

Basic colors, such as
white, black, navy and
gray, always are popular
with wovens because
they match well with end
users' programs.

show pictures of this to clients to bring to
life the power of decoration.
As customers become more adventurous
and open-minded toward decorating plackets
and wovens, trends should continue to evolve
and strengthen for decorators bold enough
to offer the garments.
"The trends of 2015 were so powerful that
they will be carried forward and strengthened
in 2016," Crow says. "I think the woven
category will continue to grow and decorators
will explore more placement options." 

"For placket shirts, bright colors
such as lime green, safety yellow
and sky blue [are popular]."
Trending: Zip-Ups
Zipper placket necklines are gaining in popularity for both men and women, being featured in mid- and
outer-layer pullovers and jackets, according to Vicki Ostrom, senior designer, SanMar.
The appeal is apparent. Instead of buttoning or unbuttoning to open or restrict airflow,
wearers simply adjust the placket with a swift zip. "Zipper plackets in performance
pullovers are a key item," Ostrom says. "These pieces can even be sweater alternatives
when layered over a woven shirt and tie."
It's also a great chance to introduce the "wow factor" to a garment, as it's fairly simple to add
pizzazz to a zipper.
"A zipper placket also is an opportunity to showcase a little pop of reflective tape on the zipper tape
[for heightened functionality] or to provide an opportunity for a quick pop of color in an otherwise
solid-color garment [to reinforce a sporty lifestyle]," Ostrom says.
P.26

I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M February 2016

http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM

Impressions - February 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - February 2016