Try Patterns and Prints: I Double-Dog Dare You

I admit it: I resisted the patterned-leggings trend for a long time. But one day, I relented. I tried on a pair and, within moments, understood why it’s such a growing trend. Prints make it easier to mix different colors, textures and fun into one cohesive look. They breathe a touch of life into an outfit.

After all, you can only have so many sweaters of the some color before your closet starts to look like Mark Zuckerberg’s.

Believe me, I know. My wardrobe tends to stick to a similar color scheme. It includes various shades of blues, greens and grays that my family dubs “Allison colors.” And, well, black.

Those patterned leggings I wear all the time? They bring together blue, gray and black—my staples—and yet feel like a completely fresh take.

(Image via FSP Apparel)

Of course, I get it. Prints can be overwhelming. They are bold statements. And they are, perhaps, even bolder statements in the promotional products industry. But there are plenty of ways to incorporate them into a campaign without overdoing it.

Not ready to launch an all-over print, well, all over the product? Try imprinting a pattern onto the pocket, sleeves or side panels of a T-shirt or tank.

(Image via OTTO International Inc.)

Would you be willing to put a print all over a product if that item wasn’t as large a part of the outfit as a T-shirt or leggings? Consider putting a pattern on the entirety of a hat. Still too much? Try keeping the pattern to the bill.

Patterns and prints bring a sense of creativity to the table—or rather, the closet. Let end-users mix and match pieces to keep creating new outfits. A solid-color shirt pairs well with a patterned skirt; a solid-color dress can be brightened with a patterned scarf; a solid-color moisture-working gym shirt meets its match in patterned leggings. Better yet, each of these combinations works vice versa, too.

Are you up for the challenge of incorporating patterns and prints into an upcoming promotion? Now is the time to give it a try—this summer is shaping up to be a promising one for fans of pattern and color.