Product Hub CANADIAN NEWS January 07, 2025
ASI Orlando 2025: 10 Apparel & Headwear Trends From the Show Floor
Promo’s first big trade show of the year was replete with new products and emerging trends that are sure to move the needle with end-buyers.
Key Takeaways
• Snuggle-Friendly: Thick, heavyweight apparel (T-shirts, hoodies) made of super-soft fabrics is trending, combining ’90s fashion and modern comfort.
• Cross-market Appeal Outerwear: Hybrid jackets, combining knit and thermal elements, make versatile options for clients in a spectrum of end-markets.
• Tees With a Twist: Performance-driven hooded shirts are gaining traction across various industries, offering sun protection and comfort.
ASI Orlando 2025 was the first major promotional products trade show of the new year, offering an out-of-the-gate look at what could shape the merch market’s next 12 months. And with apparel and headwear accounting for more than 40% of distributors’ sales, being on top of what’s in within the world of wearables is paramount. Here are 10 trends to watch.
Jump to a Trend
Performance Hooded Shirts Have Cross-market Appeal
Printer-Friendly Caps Come Into Play
1. Softer Heavyweights Are Hot
Influenced by hip retail streetwear, thicker heavier-weight T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts have been trending in the branded merchandise space for a bit already, particularly when it comes to providing apparel for more youthful/fashion-forward end-users in markets that may range from collegiate and festivals to resorts.
But headed into 2025, there’s a fresh spin on the styles in promo: softer, snuggle-friendly fabrics.
Rodger Blanton of Counselor Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867) showcases a pullover hoodie (9307) and high boxy T-shirt (7610) that embody the trend of heavyweight styles made in super-soft fabrics.
Hoodie
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Boxy T-shirt
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At ASI Orlando, for instance, Counselor Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (asi/73867) was featuring items like its unisex heavyweight pullover hoodie (9307). The hooded sweatshirt had the thickness and heavyweight feel that’s been popular, but it came in a super-soft fabric made predominantly from combed ringspun cotton. The same went for other fresh pieces Next Level was offering, including loose-fitting drop-shoulder T-shirts and a women’s heavyweight high boxy T-shirt (7610) that’s proving to be much sought after.
“They’re very on trend – a skate or hip-hop feel – that has the look of fashion from the ’90s but with modern comfort,” said Rodger Blanton of Next Level.
2. Mock Necks & More
Those younger and/or more fashion-conscious end-users who dig the softer heavyweights may also go in for another trending look that figured in the collections of suppliers like Next Level and Los Angeles Apparel (asi/67971) – namely, wider, or heightened, necklines on T-shirts.
These varieties include crewnecks in which the line is broadened, as well as styles that are outright mock necks, with the line rising quite prominently up the throat. A good example, the unisex heavy mock neck T-shirt (2017MN), was drawing attention at the Los Angeles Apparel booth.
The unisex heavy mock neck T-shirt (2017MN) from Los Angeles Apparel (asi/67971).
“It’s perfect for when the weather is warm enough for a T-shirt, but still chilly enough to where you want a little extra warmth,” said Los Angeles Apparel’s Thalia Rodriguez.
3. Hybrid Jackets Are In
When it comes to branded outerwear, hybrid jackets are among the “it” styles heading into 2025.
Examples on offer at ASI Orlando included the women’s Narvick hybrid jacket (BRX-1W) from Counselor Top 40 supplier Stormtech (asi/89869). It features a PFC-free durable water-repellant thermal shell on the main body with knit collar and sleeves – the combination of knit and thermal shell making it a “hybrid.”
Hybrid jackets like the men’s TRX-3M and the women’s BRX-1W from Counselor Top 40 supplier Stormtech (asi/89869) are versatile pieces that sell across a range of markets.
A new hybrid for men that Stormtech was spotlighting, the TRX-3M, called attention to another emerging trend in thermal shell outerwear: more compact/vertical square baffles as opposed to baffles that run longer and horizontal across the jacket. (Baffles are the space between two layers of fabric that contain loose fill synthetic insulation or down. These trap air and help keep you toasty.)
“The jackets are just so versatile,” said Stormtech’s Richard Dolan. “They work for different people in a whole range of weather, and they make perfect layering pieces. We’re seeing them sell everywhere from uniform programs to various corporate markets.”
4. Performance Hooded Shirts Have Cross-market Appeal
For suppliers like Paragon (asi/85988) and Champro (asi/44612), hooded shirts have been selling like proverbial hotcakes – and the suppliers expect that to continue in 2025.
These lightweight styles are typically created from performance fabric and are essentially long- or short-sleeve T-shirts with the added bonus of a hood.
Tim Stiene of Paragon (asi/85988) displays the company’s Bahama performance hooded long-sleeve T-shirt (220), which sells to end-markets that range from resorts to construction.
The distributors Paragon works with sell the supplier’s Bahama performance hooded long-sleeve T-shirt (220) to an array of end-buyers, from landscaping, roofing and construction companies to resorts. The Bahama offers UPF sun protection but is still airy and cool, making it ideal for laborers toiling beneath heavy rays and surf-and-sand vacationers who want a little layer between them and the sun without overheating.
“The style really started in the boating world, with anything to do with the water, and now it’s just taken off,” said Paragon’s Tim Stiene. “It’s incredible how much we sell in safety green. Workers love it for sun protection and comfort.”
Champro’s long- and short-sleeve hooded shirts are used in a variety of markets. Indeed, Champro’s Jim Dusbiber said sales among corporate clients are revving up. “Office culture has become so much more casual, and companies like to have these for their employees,” Dusbiber said.
5. Printer-Friendly Caps Come Into Play
Counselor Top 40 supplier Otto International’s (asi/75350) booth was abuzz with distributors keen to learn more about its new seamless six-panel mid-profile trucker (1120-1) and baseball (270-1) caps.
What makes these caps special is that there’s no seam running through the front, forward-facing panel of the crown, allowing for smooth, uninterrupted prints – a boon for decoration techniques such as full-color dye sublimation prints.
“It’s new for 2025, and we’ve had a ton of interest already,” said Otto’s Jennifer McGaha.
The seamless six-panel mid-profile trucker (1120-1) from Counselor Top 40 supplier Otto International (asi/75350).
6. Seven-Panel Hats & Perforated Caps on the Rise
Two quite different headwear styles ascending in popularity were centerpieces in Counselor Top 40 supplier Cap America’s (asi/43792) collection at ASI Orlando.
The seven-panel trucker mesh-back cap (i3057) from Counselor Top 40 supplier Cap America (asi/43792).
One was the seven-panel trucker mesh-back cap (i3057). It’s a medium-profile structured cap with a flat bill likely to appeal to mountain resorts, craft breweries and just about anyone who enjoys a skate/snowboard/surf aesthetic.
Meanwhile, the premium water-resistant perforated cap (i8540) is a structured medium-profile style with a shapable pre-curved visor. With stretchable/poly spandex blend fabric that’s perforated at the sides and back, the cap speaks to active lifestyles while still being on-brand for office professionals. Potential markets to target include golf events and corporate store programs.
The premium water-resistant perforated cap (i8540) from Counselor Top 40 supplier Cap America (asi/43792).
Don’t Forget About the Feet
Socks and shoes are wearables, too – and there’s money to be made with them. Sock 101 (asi/88071) wants to help with that.
Sock 101’s (asi/88071) Terrin Conway showcases a couple of items the supplier expects to be big sellers: custom golf shoes and comfy, retail-inspired slouchy socks with a nostalgic aesthetic.
The Missouri-based supplier this year is debuting customizable golf shoes that can be produced at minimums of one pair. Sock 101’s Terrin Conway explained that an ideal scenario would see the supplier onsite at golf events hosting a pop-up store, engaging with attendees on behalf of distributors for sizing and then shipping the customized shoes to end-recipients post-event. “So many distributors kept asking about custom golf shoes, so we knew it was the right thing to do to bring this to the market,” Conway said.
7. Softer Shades Set the Tone
It’d probably be casting too wide a net to say there’s a single overarching color trend in wearables for 2025. Still, there was a color theme threading through the collections of some apparel suppliers: Softer shades appear to be having a moment.
To wit, incarnations of the heavyweight streetwear-inspired styles mentioned above came in calming neutral and earth tones. Meanwhile, J. America (asi/62977) was showcasing quarter-zips in light pinks, blues, purples and even peacock – a gentle-on-the-eye green-white.
“Color trends kind of come and go in waves, and right now we’re definitely being asked a lot about lighter, softer tones,” said J. America’s Matt Lakics.
Available from J. America (asi/62977), this fleece quarter-zip (8760) is shown in peacock – a gentle color that exemplifies the soft shade trend.
8. Room for More Retail Brands
It’s not news that retail trends influence promo and that industry suppliers have been making concerted efforts to bring more retail brands to the merch market to help distributors meet end-buyer demand. The movement continues to gain momentum.
Counselor Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063), for instance, was showcasing new offerings from outdoor/fishing-wear brand Huk, modern active lifestyle brand Tasc, golf wear line Fairway & Greene and versatile yoga-studio-to-the-street brand Glyder (asi/57248). All were gaining considerable traction, alphabroder’s Loren Anderson said.
Anderson noted that long-standing pillars of apparel retail brands in promo like Under Armour, Nike and Adidas continue to sell the highest volumes, but other brands are moving too – a sign of the general healthy appetite among end-buyers for such products.
The Fairway & Greene Men’s USA-made mini-stripe tech polo (i11526) is among Counselor Top 40 supplier alphabroder’s (asi/34063) upward-trending retail brand products.
9. Sustainability Going Strong
Toward the end of December, Counselor Top 40 supplier SanMar (asi/84863) announced an exclusive partnership with Belgian brand Stanley/Stella, with plans to bring 20 premium sustainable tees and fleece to the U.S. market this spring.
The Issaquah, WA-headquartered company was showing off the new offerings at ASI Orlando – just one of many eco-minded product examples from the show floor. Collectively, all the greener goods spoke to the increasing foothold the broader sustainability movement is establishing in promo.
Counselor Top 40 supplier SanMar (asi/84863) is bringing the Stanley/Stella brand to the U.S. promo market, including styles like this women’s hooded sweatshirt (SXW035), which is made of 80% organic combed ringspun cotton and 20% recycled polyester.
As for Stanley/Stella in particular, SanMar’s Paul Perri explained how the brand is one of the top global buyers of organic cotton and has active accreditation and memberships with GOTS, Fair Wear Foundation, Textile Exchange and PETA. The brand is also committed to transparency, documenting extensively on its website and in its annual sustainability report how it traces its supply chain from farm to fabric.
Of course, the sustainability impetus extends well beyond apparel.
Apparel-adjacent categories like accessories, such as bags, are part of the movement as well. California-based Terry Town (asi/90913) is bringing to market bags from Swissdigital Design that feature a special tracer that allows anyone to scan a QR code and see the bag’s journey through the global supply chain from start to finish – a transparency augmenter aimed at demonstrating the products were made ethically.
Had a nice chat today at #ASIOrlando with Alp Ereren of Terry Town about innovative technology built directly into new bags the firm is offering. pic.twitter.com/Rl9uzbC0IG
— Chris Ruvo (@ChrisR_ASI) January 6, 2025
10. Made-in-the-USA Momentum
A confluence of national historical milestones, high-profile sporting events and potential federal actions, such as possible new import tariffs, are setting the stage for an upsurge in demand for Made-in-the-USA promotional products over the next several years.
Glen Brumer and the rest of the team at supplier Royal Apparel (asi/83731), which specializes in domestically produced clothing, said the rise in activity is already beginning to manifest. “We’re fielding a lot of calls,” said Brumer. “Many are from people who maybe didn’t have a consistent Made-in-the-USA option in the past, but now they’re looking for one.”
Brumer said Royal Apparel’s garment-dyed T-shirts, which can be dyed to match an end-client’s Pantone-brand colors at minimums of 288, are among the products garnering ample attention. “We’re excited,” he said, “about what’s ahead.”
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