Impressions - January 2020 - 26

New Styles: T-Shirts
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T-Shirts, which will be emailed Jan. 7.
1. Champion Short-Sleeve Ring-Spun T-Shirt
Style CP10 Ý Made of 5.5-ounce, 100% ring-spun cotton Ý Champion "C" logo
on left sleeve Ý Tag-free neck label; double-needle, cover-seamed rib collar;
double-needle sleeve and bottom hems Ý Self-fabric, shoulder-to-shoulder
taping Ý Available in sizes S-3XL
Use Info⋅Action #300 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

2. GAME Workwear Ventilated Deluxe Tee
Style 235R Ý Features 2-inch silver/gray segmented and elastic tape that's
heat-sealed to the garment for added comfort Ý Made with 100%, soft-spun
birdseye polyester Ý Lightweight polyester mesh ventilation panels under
the arms
Use Info⋅Action #301 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

3. Gildan Activewear Softstyle EZ Print T-Shirts
Style 64EZ0 Ý Enzyme washing and high-stitch density create a soft, clean
surface that's ideal for DTG printing, according to the company Ý Modern,
classic fit and made of 100% ring-spun cotton Ý Adult sizes S-3XL are available
in four colors
Use Info⋅Action #302 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

4. Next Level Apparel Cotton Raglan Tee
Style 3650 Ý Made of 100% combed, ring-spun cotton and 90/10 cotton/
polyester in heather gray Ý Preferred fabric for discharge and DTG printing,
according to the company Ý Crew neck, contrast raglan sleeves and bound
neck Ý Tearaway label
Use Info⋅Action #303 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

5. Tri-Mountain Heather Performance Tee
Style K210CN Ý Made of 5-ounce polyester heather jersey knit Ý Moisturewicking properties Ý Available in several sizes and colors
Use Info⋅Action #304 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

6. JERZEES Premium Blend Ring-Spun T-Shirt
Style 560MR Ý Made of 50/50 combed, ring-spun cotton/polyester Ý Moisturewicking properties, classic fit and tearaway label Ý Available in 24 colors and
sizes S-3XL
Use Info⋅Action #305 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

The Comfort Factor
Comfort is the third - and perhaps most important - trend in T-shirt
design for 2020, driving fabrics, silhouettes and design. Oleksik says to
look for fabrics that are soft and comfortable, paired with details that
elevate a garment without taking it too far into the fashion category.
Slightly oversized and relaxed fits will be mainstays, as they contribute to comfort. For men, the streetwear influence will continue.
"Look for slightly oversized tees featuring functional patch pockets
and mock layers," Edwards says.
She also says women's crop tops will continue as a trend, in part
because they provide the perfect balance to the trend in wide-legged
pants and jeans.
"We've seen variations of a short-sleeve crop, but a long-sleeve
crop - regardless of the season - will be big for 2020," says Amanda Mintzman, marketing director, Next Level Apparel. "For men, I
think a heavier-weight tee is trending, which is definitely based off
of streetwear. This has trended in the past and is back, with more
structure to it."
More blends will be available on the market, especially those that
are soft, yet durable. These include polyester, rayon and modal, Edwards says. Textures also will be important, as they have visual value
and translate well for the online consumer, according to Oleksik.
Cotton will continue to remain a top choice, as its durability,
breathability and inherent softness defines comfort.
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i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m JANUARY 2020

"[Cotton is] the fabric that immediately comes to mind when someone thinks about T-shirts," Davis says. "Cotton blends and tri-blends
have become very prevalent in the market in recent years, which has
also resulted in lighter-weight fabrics. While [these] fabrics will continue to be popular, we're now starting to see a shift back to the mid- to
heavyweight fabrics, which tend to be 100% cotton or CVC blends."

Sustainable Trendiness
Apparel longevity is important to many young, financially crunched
consumers. "Sustainability is about quality items that stand the test
of time," Edwards says. "For manufacturers, this means producing
quality apparel with classic style that can hold up over time."
Historically, Davis says, the wholesale channel has been several seasons behind market trends at retail - which has started to
change in recent years.
"Clothing manufacturers selling in the wholesale channel have
begun to launch product collections more often than just once a
year," he says. "The challenge with this is managing stock levels on
anything considered trendy, as there is a risk of it becoming unpopular within one or two seasons. Manufacturers addressing these
trends tend to keep track of what is happening at retail season after
season to understand where the 'one-and-done' trends are and what
the longer-term trends are," said Davis, likening it to following the
stock market.

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Impressions - January 2020

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