Apparel Trends for 2022

Promotional product industry trends shift with changes in fashion, and fashion never sits still for very long. In recent years, for instance, we’ve seen an erosion of the line between workwear and casual wardrobes. Partially due to the increase in remote work, today’s wardrobes are much more versatile, with an emphasis on comfort and casual good looks over stuffy, formal office attire. 

To be most effective, target marketing promotional products need to match fashion trends. Knowing what products are in high demand right now helps you choose trending items and popular products that resonate with your target audience, be they customers, partners, or your own employees. With that in mind, here are the top trending products of 2022.

Pastels and Earth Tones are In

Younger consumers increasingly favor muted colors and basic earth tones, which give wardrobes a softer feel than the bright colors of the last few years. These popular colors are driven, in part, by an interest in sustainability and concern for the environment — natural hues are in demand. Expect to see desert hues, muted greens and browns, and natural shades of taupe, slate, and terra cotta dominate the most popular items of 2022. 

Trending products which take advantage of earth tones and pastels include:

• The Optimum II True Colors Cap, a sand-colored 100% true color cotton twill cap by Adams with a tuck-away leather back strap with antiqued brass buckle and grommet. 
• The 100% cotton Adult Ultra Cotton® 6 oz. T-Shirt by Gildan, which comes in a dizzying array of colors, including muted blues, reds, and pastels.
• The Softspun Hooded Pullover by Fruit of the Loom, which adds a gentle teal to a man’s wardrobeThe Ladies' Ice Tee by CLIQUE, a 100% polyester mesh pique tee with moisture-wicking properties. 
• The Women's Newport Fleece Pullover by Charles River, made from 100% polyester Uni-Soft Fleece™ bonded to brushed fleece in soft pinks and sands. 

Sustainable Popular Products

The same consumer forces driving pastels and earth-tones also creates demand for some of the best new promotional gifts of 2022: Eco-conscious products. Demand for sustainable, ethically-sourced garments is on the rise, in part a reaction to the resource-devouring nature of fast fashion. Companies who use earth-friendly trending products for promotional gifts align themselves with consumer concerns about the environment and link their brand to customer values. 

Top trending sustainable products include fashion choices such as: 

• The Men's Virtue Eco Pique Recycled Polo by Cutter & Buck, made from an ultra-lightweight, moisture wicking, certified eco-friendly recycled drytec polyester blended with spandex.
• The Women's Re-Fleece™ Full-Zip Hoodie by District, a comfortable, never re-dyed hoodie made with 100% recycled fabric.
• The Women's Viscose Bamboo Organic Cotton Muscle Tee by Royal Apparel, a sustainable and environmentally friendly tee made from 70% Viscose Bamboo and 30% Combed Ring Spun Organic Cotton for a silky soft feel. 
• The Unisex Bamboo Organic Cotton Tee by Royal Apparel, made with Viscose Bamboo and Combed Ring Spun Organic Cotton for a unique look: small marks on the tee are caused by the seeds and plant matter in the fabric.
• The Men's Polo Bamboo Charcoal Viscose/Poly Mesh Polo, which takes advantage of bamboo’s natural dry wicking and antibacterial properties. 

A Feel for the 90s

Earth tones and muted colors are far from the only choices in this year's popular products. Nostalgia for the nineties is spreading like wildfire on fashion runways across the globe. While a return to skater punk and grunge aesthetics is driven in part by those who remember the nineties from their teens and early adulthood, the nostalgia trend is surprisingly popular among young adults who were too young to remember the decade — or who weren’t even born in the last century. 

Partially driven by a longing for simpler times when the world seemed less unstable, nineties nostalgia inspires everything from a return of the flannel-layered grunge look to neon and tie-dyed tees and the working class hoodies associated with the decade’s rap scene. Whether your target demographic remembers the nineties or not, they’ll appreciates these trending products: 

• The Unisex Fashion Fleece Neon Pullover Hoodie by Royal Apparel brings back the stunningly vibrant neons of the early nineties with a modern flair. 
• The Tilt Tie Dye Tee evokes the fun and energy of the skater punk and ska scenes. 
• The Cotton Max Crewneck Sweatshirt by Champion is a callback to the working class sweatshirts worn by the decade’s most influential rappers. 
• Rediscover grunge with the Women's Flannel Plaid Pant by District Comfort 
• Put the final touch on your plaid and flannel wardrobe with the Plaid Aviator Hat  by Tough Duck.

Hoodies: the Best New Promotional Gifts of 2022

Outerwear is always among the most popular customizable marketing products, but the hoodie promises to be a powerhouse in 2022. Hoodies are among the most comfortable items in the modern work/casual wardrobe, and played a huge role in nineties fashion —  a combination that makes hooded sweatshirts the best new promotional gifts of the year. Give your customers and employees the gift of comfort with these exceptional hoodies:

• The Rain Defender Paxton Heavyweight Full Zip Hooded Sweatshirt by Carhartt is perfect for outdoor work environments on those days when a heavy jacket is too much to wear on the job.
• The Unisex Triblend Sponge Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie by Bella + Canvas is a lightweight hoodie perfect to have on hand when you need a little more warmth. 
• The Ladies Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt by SPORT-TEK combines the evergreen popularity of the hoodie with the bright neons of nineties nostalgia. 
• The Women's Zen Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt by J. America comes in a muted, acid-washed gray that blends well with any wardrobe. 
• The Unisex Thermal Bonded Sherpa Sweatshirt by Charles River is a 60% cotton / 40% polyester thermal waffle knit bonded to an anti-pill Sherpa Fleece for extra warmth. 

Trending items will continue to change throughout 2022. Triple Crown Products extensive line of customizable clothing will help your promotional marketing adapt to the latest changes in fashion.