This year’s PPAI Expo, put on by Promotional Products Association International, was filled with tons of great products, from drinkware and tech items to headwear and apparel. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the apparel trends from the show floor.

Earth Tones, Muted Colors, and Distressed Fabrics

While classic color palettes are here to stay, earth tones, pastels, and muted shades were at every turn. This paired with distressed, pigment- and garment-dyed fabric, which offers that lived-in T-shirt look.

J. America’s premium fleece crewneck, featuring 80/20 ring-spun cotton/polyester fleece fabric, nails earth tones on the head with colors like military green and charcoal heather.

Adding to the color story on the floor was Adams Headwear’s pigment-dyed, distressed caps. Each hat is designed with quality in mind, and many of its “dad hat” styles feature leather straps and brass hardware.

Even the tie-dyes were toned down a bit from their typical loud colors. The Dyenomite Apparel booth showcased its Soft Spirals collection in soft yellows, greens, and blues.

Where Tech and Textiles Meet

Remember when QR codes tried to make a splash in 2014? We all thought they were a thing of the past. Then COVID-19 happened, and suddenly we saw a resurgence with various use cases from digital menus to contactless signups for businesses.

As I walked the aisles of PPAI, it was clear the QR craze is here to stay. Many apparel suppliers use this simple yet effective tool to share T-shirt information with distributors and consumers.

Taking it to the next level, Threadfast showcased its new NFC-enabled T. You tap the NFC chip near your smartphone, open the notification that pops up, and it directs you to its programmed URL. The demo on display featured a 100% cotton T with a Barbie graphic printed on it. The small NFC chip on the sleeve directed me to the Barbie movie trailer. Why does this matter for promo distributors and decorators? The chip can endlessly link to any marketing or promo materials a business desires.

Sustainability Stands Out

Sustainability continues to be part of the apparel conversation. With eco-friendly products now non-negotiable, they’re going from “trending” to being a standard with suppliers.

Showcasing various sustainable outerwear options, STORMTECH’s Pure Earth collection features garments made with BCI cotton and recycled polyester. One of the highlights from the collection includes the Scirocco Lightweight Shell. Both the shell and lining of the waterproof jacket are made from 100% recycled polyester.

Mixing sustainability, style, customization, and outerwear, Hexa | Custom offers performance jackets and vests for those braving the cold. Made in the same facility as North Face, Patagonia, and REI products, Hexa offers that retail look but with the option to choose panel and zipper colors, add a hood or extra pocket, plus a logo. Keeping sustainability top of mind in its chain, it holds ISO 9000 Quality Management and ISO 14000 Environmental Management Certifications. Its Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certification guarantees that 100% of its down is ethically sourced.

USA-Made Garments

After a tough few years of distributors struggling with supply chain issues and finding vendors with inventory, USA-made apparel looks more and more appealing.

With operations based out of Southern California, Bayside Apparel tackles apparel manufacturing from “dirt to shirt,” says Jeremy Morillo, sales manager of strategic accounts. The U.S.-grown cotton and in-house knitting, dying, cutting, and sewing allow Bayside to oversee quality, ensure sustainability, and offer private-label custom services.

With the trade show season just kicking off, we expect to see more trends emerging in 2023. Be sure to subscribe to the Apparelist newsletter to stay in the know.