Impressions - August 2020 - 17

80/20 ring-spun cotton blended with polyester yarns, which creates a
softer hand," he says, adding that the company's current challenge is
keeping up with growing demand.
Rambo says Independent Trading Co. always is looking to make
apparel products that customers don't expect. "There are so many ways
to make a softer fleece, whether it's the yarns used, the wash treatments or even the knitting machine used," she says. These very factors
resulted in a special fabric blend with a silky-smooth feel that the
company launched a few years ago.

Colors & Cuts

Popular fall colors will trend toward neutral, though there always will
be room for splashes of color. "There's no question that COVID-19
has caused shifts in consumer behavior; however, we believe that the
color trend will continue in muted neutrals, earth tones and pastels,"
Edwards says.
Johnson agrees that neutrals will continue to make their mark, from

Style Influence

The past several years have shown that the retro influence is here
to stay. As Edwards points out, Millennials are the largest apparelpurchasing demographic, and they ascribe comfort to reaching back
to experiences and feelings that they remember fondly.
Johnson agrees. "I think 'retro,' in many ways, means comfy," he
says. "'Older' styles tend to have more relaxed fits, along with soft and
supple fabrics."
Styles also are driven by social media and influencers on multiple
platforms, but current events also play a role. "Who knew a few months
ago we'd all be wearing masks?" Edwards asks. "And like any T-shirt
or sweat shirt, we now want it customized to reflect our personality
or causes we support."
Brown says besides social media, the retail, college and resort markets
are the primary influencers that drive style development and market
trends, with geographic location also being a big factor.
Independent Trading Co. draws style inspiration from its origins as
a custom apparel manufacturer for skate and surf brands. "Working
closely with brands on their custom apparel designs has enabled us
to make everything under the sun when it comes to fleece, jersey and
woven fabrics," Rambo says.

Neutrals will continue to make
their mark, from whites to softened
pinks, along with saturated colors
with bright and bold varsityinspired shades. Photo provided by
HanesBrands.

Jacket Tidbits
Jackets have morphed in recent years, becoming transitional as summer gives way to
fall and essential between fall and winter, depending on geographical location.
The increased technological innovation in
materials have made this reality possible.
"Technical features on jackets are important, whether it's in the construction
or features like waterproof fabrics, or
insulation like our puffy jacket line,"
says Taylor Rambo, marketing director,
Independent Trading Co.
The company sticks with classic colors but
also manufactures a few unique hues, such
as safety yellow and forest camo.
Rambo says it can be challenging to predict
trends in this category. "We make what we
think is cool at the time, and about a year
later we find out if we were right," she
says. "Everything we make is an educated
guess about what our customers would like."

The push for softer fleece fabrics
will continue, facilitated by highpercentage blends of ring-spun
cotton and polyester yarns. Photo
provided by Just Hoods by AWDis.
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Impressions - August 2020

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