Warm and Toasty

It’s hard to imagine needing a fleece jacket right now in July. Before you know it, the days will get shorter, the leaves will change, and the temperature will drop. So now is the time for you to start thinking about fleece and fall apparel items. We spoke to John Perez, marketing associate at Tri-Mountain, Irwindale, Calif.; and Morey Mayeri, president of Royal Apparel, Hauppauge, N.Y., to find out about current market trends and what you can do to create new business opportunities with fleece and fall apparel.

Stay Fashion-forward

Fashion moves quickly, and end-users who want to keep up with fashion trends will want the next big thing. Perez noted that certain patterns and materials have been popular in recent years. “A couple of items that come to mind are a sweater fleece, the Regan, and a performance fleece, Lady Lancer [from Tri-Mountain],” he said. “[The Regan] is not your normal fleece. The look is different—it’s a smooth sweater-knit exterior with a heathered pattern, and the hand feel is soft, but the interior has that traditional textured fleece feel. This makes it very comfortable and more fashionable, in my opinion, [than] the standard looking fleece.” He attributed the Lady Lancer’s success to its moisture-wicking ability and vents, which suit milder winter climates.

Mayeri added that the classic look of a pullover fleece hoodie can be fresh with different styles and colors. “We offer many different pullovers ranging from triblend to organic,” he said. “We also offer it in a camo, which is on trend and very stylish.” have samples

With a product like fleece, with so many different fits, textures and functions, showing the client the product can make a big difference. “It’s good to have samples on hand so customers can see and feel the different types of fleece—traditional, micro, performance, etc.,” Perez said.