Christina's Must-Have Styles for Winter Collections and Promos
efore the fall and winter cool temperatures arrive, it’s a smart idea to start putting together your head-to-toe style recommendations for clients. Comfy beanies, crewnecks, joggers and puffer jackets are just a few of winter must-haves for people of all ages. We’ve selected six top product categories—along with our style recommendations from your favorite brands—so that it’s a snap for you to present cold-weather collections to all of your clients.
Crewneck Fleece
Despite the fact that crewneck fleece styles have been available at wholesale for years, the category has rapidly increased in popularity more recently. The trend of comfortable clothing has accelerated post-pandemic – and is prevalent among lots of casual, relaxed workplaces. People love crewneck fleeces because they’re comfortable and cozy, without the excess bulk of a hood. These styles are great layering pieces and worn year-round, from coast-to-coast and for all seasons.
Style Tips:
Wear a crewneck fleece over tees and tanks, or under vests and jackets. Coordinating, matching fleece joggers and shorts have become the norm and are no longer just thought of as a streetwear look or considered “just loungewear.” For many, this has become the standard daily look acceptable for all types of events and destinations.
Who’s Wearing It:
Crewneck fleeces are a hugely versatile style for all markets, from schools and teams, to resorts and merch for purchase at restaurants or music venues.
Recommended Style:
The Jerzees NuBlend® Crewneck Sweatshirt (562MR) is one of our most popular crewneck styles, made of pill-resistant fleece and coming in at a great price point. This style offers a flattering, preshrunk fit. The high stitch density creates a smooth printing surface and it’s available a wide color offering—tap into the Earth-tone neutrals trend with new shades like Sandstone, Sweet Cream Heather and Rock.
Beanies
Do you know what the most essential winter headwear accessory is? Try on a warm, fashion-forward beanie for size. There’s a variety of beanie silhouette options, including cuffed and uncuffed styles. Colored pom poms offer added spirit in the stands or action on the slopes. We offer styles in a variety of fabrics, such as poly knits and comfy polar fleeces, suitable for every customer need.
Style Tips:
Bundle a beanie with color-matched scarves and gloves for a full winter accessories package they’ll love to wear. Faux leather patches are trending on headwear right now, consider suggesting this unique decoration element to your client’s beanie order. If you’re hesitant to try heat pressing acrylic, we’ve got some tips for you in the Decoration Myths episode below.
Who’s Wearing It:
Beanies work for all types of markets, like schools, teams, companies with outdoor crews or events, winter resorts and more. Match the beanie pom-pom to company logo, school or team colors for added panache.
Recommended Styles:
I’m loving the sustainable beanies from the Atlantis Collection. The styles have a clean, finished edge for various decoration options, such as embroidery and patches. The Sustainable Finish Edge Knit - MAPLE is made from 60/40 Polylana® fiber/acrylic and has a cuff. The Sustainable Fleece Beanie - BIRK is made from 100% certified recycled polyester, with moisture-wicking properties. These beanies conform to the Global Recycled Standard.
Shirt Jackets
Shirt jackets, also known as “shackets” or “shirt jacs” are a shirt/jacket hybrid. Shackets are made from a thicker fabric than a shirt, but not as heavy as a jacket and are versatile layering pieces, especially during the transition from summer to fall, and winter to spring. These business casual, tailored pieces are now starting to replace traditional blazers in the workplace. Keep your eye on shackets, which continue to evolve in colors, patterns, and various fabrications such as flannel, wool, even quilted materials.
Style Tips:
Remember, you can substitute a shirt jac for a blazer for a sportier feel. Layer a shirt jacket over a crewneck top or a crisp white t-shirt for on-trend workplace casual looks.
Who’s Wearing It:
Various markets—from hospitality, workwear to leisure—will be interested in adding a shirt jac style to their uniform, corporate stores or for-sale merch. Shackets are great styles for everyone, since they’re an ideal unisex layering piece for any daily activity.
Recommended Styles:
For on the go and casual gatherings, we love the Burnside Quilted Flannel Hooded Jacket (8620)—with its warm interior, sherpa-lined hood, and side entry pockets. This style comes in three popular checkered color schemes. From J. America, check out the Quilted Jersey Shirt Jacket (8889), with a stylish full placket,seven metal snaps and welt side pockets.
Fleece Joggers
Fleece joggers used to only be perfect for clients in need of athletic bottoms for sports programs. Now, joggers have evolved beyond being just a sport and leisure basic. They’re a highly sought-after fashion staple that we now offer in a ton of colors and patterns. Many styles have a relaxed, unisex fit, which makes joggers both gender and size inclusive, as well as something that can be used for all occasions from workleisure to streetwear.
Style Tips:
Fleece joggers are also great layering options over shorts for gym, fitness, school and team markets.Many brands offer matching crewneck and hoodie options for the increasingly popular monochromatic looks and tie-dye trends.
Who’s Wearing It:
Your clients in many industries—from corporate to collegiate to athleisure—will be interested in adding comfortable unisex joggers to their stores.
Recommended Styles:
J. America’s Tie Dye Fleece Joggers (8884) are made of extra soft fleece—and offer on-trend color palettes, like Dusty Rose, Lagoon, Sunset, Olive and Periwinkle. You’ll love the handy side pockets! Also check out BELLA + CANVAS’ Unisex Joggers (3727), made of ultra-soft Airlume combed and ringspun cotton. The unisex sizing make these a great choice for outfitting large groups, or for a corporate store or college bookstore. These joggers come in a lot of versatile colors, including Athletic Heather, Forest, Heather Slate, Lilac, Maroon, Mauve, Navy and Red.
Polar Fleece and Sherpa
Gorpcore (that’s outdoor inspired fashion) and the booming outdoor movement have made polar and Sherpa fleece layering pieces wildly popular. This exciting category includes many silhouette options like full-zips, quarter-zips, vests and pullover hoodies.
Who’s Wearing It:
Because you can use versatile polar fleece as a layering item all year round, they’re great additions to lifestyle brand and collegiate apparel lines. These styles usually have coordinating companion pieces, making them especially attractive to corporate markets.
Recommended Styles:
We’ve got his and her styles from Columbia, an outdoor brand we all know and love. The Rugged Ridge™ II Sherpa Fleece Full-Zip (191111) for men is made of 100% polyester Sherpa, with hand pockets and a Columbia patch. The Women's West Bend™ Full-Zip (193990), also made from 100% Sherpa, has zippered hand pockets and is a great companion piece to the Ridge. We also like Burnside’s super-warm Polar Fleece Quarter-Zip Scuba Hooded Pullover (3600) with an on-trend dyed-to-match zipper and a large front pouch pocket.
Puffer Jackets
The puffer jacket is the most essential must-have outerwear item for the winter. Outerwear brands continue to update silhouettes, lengths, insulated features and functionalities that create warmth and protection from the elements. Puffers are usually ready for any chilly weather condition, since they’re insulated and made of water-resistant fabric.
Who’s Wearing It:
Depending on the puffer jacket style, some packable versions are easy to stow away when traveling between multiple climates or just have handy without taking up much space. Target travelers, event-goers, outdoor athletes and more. These are especially great for clients in need of high-end corporate gifts.
Recommended Styles:
The classic-fit Weatherproof PillowPac Puffer Jacket (211136) doubles as a water- and wind-resistant jacket, and also folds into a neck pillow. For him, from Columbia, we like the on-trend Pike Lake™ Jacket (173802) that’s packed with performance features, including water-resistant fabric, Omni-Heat™ Reflective and Thermarator™ insulation. For women, try on the Women's Pike Lake™ II Insulated Jacket (190928) that also has an attached, adjustable hood. We also have some brand new puffer jacket and vest options from adidas (pictured in the header image) for our 2023 collection.
Get Ready for Cool Temps Now
Don’t wait to show your clients this great selection of winter pieces to outfit everyone with ease. Presenting your clients with on-trend cool weather apparel and accessories that appeal to everyone sets you apart from your competitors, so don’t wait to pitch them these exciting product ideas. Share and tag your final decorated winter gear with us at @ssactivewear on Instagram!
