Along with eco-conscious items, which have been in demand in recent years, hot hues now include matte heathers, woodgrains and metallics. In addition, clients want blue PPE kits; masks in black, steel gray and cobalt blue; blue metallic journals; and natural bamboo boxes and cheese boards, perfect for meals at home.
At Top 40 supplier S&S Activewear (asi/84358), Megan Erber, the outside sales manager for New Jersey and Pennsylvania, says she’s seen a similar uptick in neutral apparel tones, like soft blues, greens, tans and pinks, as part of the ongoing eco-friendly/sustainability trend. Now, they’re taking the place of traditional grays, whites and blacks during the pandemic.
“They offer a nice touch of color without being too forward or obnoxious, and tend to complement different logos and decorations,” she explains.Calming colors also present an opportunity for brands to project an image of “peace, calm and comfort,” says Taraynn Lloyd, vice president of marketing at Top 40 supplier Edwards Garment (asi/51752). “A huge trend for us has been knit shirts in traditional blues, like light, ceil and royal,” she adds. “We also introduced French blue for a couple of our most popular styles, like Airgrid and Micro-Pique polos, and sales have been doing extremely well for us.”
Lloyd says soft grays are also in demand; Edwards’ new mélange chambray shirt (1039/5041) in cool gray heather and Carolina blue heather has grown in popularity.
At Storm Creek (asi/89879), senior apparel designer Jeff Wright says they’re seeing an increase in demand for soft colors with a comfortable feel and recycled content. Among the offerings are Sagebrush Green, Pink Blush, Dusty Blue, Oatmeal and Light Heather Gray, along with light/dark pairings like Olive/Sagebrush, Maroon/Pink Blush and Navy/Dusty Blue.
“Apparel in neutrals and classic colors are emerging with new vigor and will gain strength into Fall 2021,” says Wright. “There’s been a refreshing appeal to colors that reflect our natural surroundings and interior living environments.”
Vaught says the emotional influence of different colors and tones can help people weather this challenging environment. “It’s such a stressful time for everyone, and it makes perfect sense that people are making conscious choices in both products and colors that may help alleviate some pressure,” he says.
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