Apparel Trends in 2021

To quote Lauren Hutton "Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose." And the following style trends are having an impact on brand merchandise.

First off, there is a serious trend away from lightweight, unisex cut, tri-blend tees and toward heavier weight organic materials.  Although soft hand feel tri-blends will remain popular, heavy cotton t-shirts are making a comeback! The rise of streetwear is pushing the look of today's tee to longer lengths and wider, boxier sleeves. Classic styles like pocket shirts and pigment dye are on the rise–and designers are playing with new hemlines like drop tail hems, rounded hems and high-low asymmetry.

Also being propelled by streetwear trends is the expansion of decorating locations.  We all have been trained that the left chest is the primary decoration location for company logos but brands that are looking to put their unique spin on their garments are branching out.  From hip prints, wrap around prints and yoke prints, we can continue to expect designers to push well beyond the traditional.

Emulating high end retail brands, small brands and company designers are adding more flourishes to their designs.  We predict a continued growth in patches and labels.  Leather patches, woven labels and silicone labels are gaining popularity with boutique brands. For years, embroidered patches were used for practical purposes such as labeling uniforms. However, from offbeat vintage finds to mainstream apparel trends, patches are being revived and adapted. These products are trending in such a major way because they allow decorators to effortlessly turn customers’ designs or logos into vivid, fashion-quality looks and finishes.