The lines have blurred between home and work and corporate and casual – a societal shift reflected in apparel this year, with many smaller trends consolidating under the umbrella of lifestyle-driven casuals. “Customers used to have two wardrobes,” says Katie Boyce, vice president/general manager for Trimark (asi/92121), part of Top 40 supplier PCNA (asi/78897), “and it’s now one. It’s versatile and fits all of their needs.” Along with here-to-stay features like softness and earth tones, the new year will also draw inspiration from the prints and patterns of bygone decades while also highlighting sustainability. Here are four big trends to watch.

TREND

Muted Colors

Heather Hendricks, executive account manager for Drive Marketing (asi/183590), a Top 40 distributor based in Sandy, UT, says muted tones will continue to track into 2022. In particular, she says twin sets – a matching sweatshirt and jogger pants, usually in fleece – will manifest this trend of less-saturated color.

“Into 2022, we’re going to continue to see a monochromatic approach to apparel,” she says. “Subtle tones and hues of the desert, pastels, muted greens, creams, soft blues, custardy yellow, terra cotta, taupe, slate.”

This ringspun cotton tee (4980) comes in 41 colors, including the cooling Marbled Pale Violet. Available from Hanes (asi/59528).

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At Hanes (asi/59528), muted versions of bright colors are referred to as “restorative pastels,” says Chris Guard, marketing manager for Hanes and ComfortWash. “At first glance, you may not see the base color, but a closer look shows a very soft application of a bright hue,” he says. An example is the new Marbled Ice Fall of the Hanes Perfect Tee, which has a blue undertone. Kelly Sutton, marketing manager for Champion and Alternative Apparel, says these colors have a modern appeal for younger consumers “who see these basic earth tones as high-end,” she explains, pointing to the Alternative Eco Cozy fleece that comes in Natural.

For a tone-on-tone look, these heavyweight hoodies (LS16001) and sweatpants (LS16006) can be paired in matching colors like salmon and peanut butter. Available from Lane Seven Apparel (asi/66246). Design mock-up by Drive Marketing (asi/183590).

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Earthy hues are trending, like this cotton canvas cap (i3037), available in cider and three other rugged colors. Available from Cap America (asi/43792).

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Rhyen Campbell, content strategist at Top 40 supplier Cap America (asi/43792), is also seeing muted colors reminiscent of desert and earth hues for the company’s hat orders, like mustard yellow, olive, rusty reds and cider browns (à la Carhartt). “Any color that reminds you of nature, grass or dirt,” she says. Other headwear that remains popular, notes Campbell, are the two-tone trucker hat and Flexfit fitted caps, the latter of which folds into the streetwear trend. According to Campbell, Cap America’s orders for retail-inspired knit beanies have doubled in the past year, regardless of season, mostly in solid earth tones. “People wear them as a fashion statement,” she adds, “and not just because it keeps them warm.” It’s for a different reason that Rich Santo, CEO at Chicago-based decorator Culture Studio (asi/532911), says clients often end up going with a more muted palette, particularly for the decoration: to keep a soft T-shirt wearable. “That much ink on a very thin, soft garment is going to make it very heavy,” he says, “so we’re bringing the levels very far down with the artwork.”

TREND

Earth-Conscious Product

PCNA/Trimark’s Katie Boyce says that for 2022, a main driver of customer purchasing will be whether the product is kind to the planet. She says 90% of PCNA’s new development is around eco-friendly items, such as fleece made of recycled polyester. “We’re building out a portfolio of retail brands that are leading the market from a sustainability and socially conscious perspective,” she explains. “From a pricing perspective, customers are looking for longevity, quality and value.”

“Eco” looks are showing up in fun new ways, such as this full-zip Sherpa fleece jacket (TM98143). Available from Trimark (asi/92121).

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Clients are willing to pay more for pieces that will be part of their wardrobe for more than a season, Boyce continues, which explains the move toward high-quality retail brands with soft fabrics that offer surface interest, such as sherpa.

While color, style and fit are also significant drivers for purchase, the importance of eco-friendly apparel can’t be overlooked, says Sutton, noting Alternative Apparel’s Modal Triblend as an example of a tee that is lightweight, soft and features three eco-friendly yarns – U.S.-grown cotton, recycled poly and TENCEL Modal.

Leaning into customer demand for sustainability has wide-reaching benefits, Hendricks says. Putting more dollars into one item not only guarantees a high level of utility and exposure, but the messaging – Is the product sustainable? Does it give back to the community? Is there a conscious approach to manufacturing? – also creates a lasting impression. “Integrating those trends,” Hendricks says, “is how you depict what is relevant, current and desirable.”

This tri-blend crew (4450HM) is made with 40% Tencel Modal, 35% U.S. combed ringspun cotton, and 25% recycled polyester. Available from Alternative Apparel (asi/59528).

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For her part, Cadi Stephenson, partner at Canary Marketing (asi/156455) who works out of the company’s San Ramon, CA, headquarters, says she’s seeing more earth-aware efforts in apparel, plus greater transparency about sourcing. “All of a sudden, we’re seeing a lot of recycled materials,” she says, noting that companies are evermore educated on these topics and no longer willing to leave these boxes unchecked. “They’re not just putting their logo to put their logo,” she adds. And that social consciousness extends to other areas. Stephenson says she’s seen companies place a high priority on buying from BIPOC artists and businesses. “People really want to support those minority-owned businesses and specifically ask for it,” she says. “They’re educated on it and if they’re going to buy something, it’s better to have something that has meaning.”

TREND

’90s Nostalgia

Rebecca Klapper, manager of communications and brand marketing at Boundless, says one of the biggest trends she’s forecasting for 2022 is the comeback of the 1990s. She notes key pieces such as cropped cardigans and a turn toward “extreme layering” will denote this aesthetic.

Embrace ‘90s nostalgia with retro geometric decorations, as shown on this organic cotton long-sleeve tee (5029G). Available from ascolour. Decoration mockup by Drive Marketing (asi/183590).

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This tie-dye bucket hat (SP450) perfectly straddles the line between retro funkiness and new cool. Available from Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877).

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The nostalgia trend has been “building steam for a while,” she says, adding that the 1970s and 1980s will be giving way in 2022 to ’90s and early 2000s skate culture. The look is “louder and fiercer,” Klapper notes, with “bright positive hues” like vibrant pink, amethyst purple and lime green surging. (She says they’re easily paired with still-popular nude shades.) She likewise expects more ginghams and checkered prints, tied to the resurgence of what she calls the “surfer-punk-ska aesthetic.” She notes the grunge look was prominent at New York and London’s recent fashion weeks. Hendricks at Drive Marketing also anticipates bold geometric patterns from the mid-1990s for next year, plus florals and vintage plaids. The effect of this rebirth is twofold, she says: It’s shaping the fashion of a younger generation while also creating nostalgia for those who lived through those times.

TREND

The Unboxing Experience

It’s on the outside that counts? Yes, according to distributors. The growing emphasis on the ethos behind a product also carries over to the recipient’s first encounter, says Hendricks. “In these times of work from home, we’ve emphasized packaging – the receiving, the unboxing experience,” she explains. The box itself should be beautiful, she says, with a message or pattern on the outside that ties into a theme, while well-placed items speak back to the brand. A further benefit to creating enthusiasm from the first touch, Hendricks says, is the potential for the unboxings to be shared on social media. “This is an opportunity to share with others and provide longstanding brand recognition,” she notes. According to Stephenson, her company uses eco-friendly packaging so it doesn’t contribute to landfills. Clients increasingly ask that all shipping material be recyclable or compostable, she says, mentioning companies like EcoEnclose and TishWish. “We’re even getting down to compostable tape,” she adds. “We’re trying to think at that level.”

Drive Marketing (asi/183590) is prioritizing packaging to wow recipients right from the start.

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