The polo continues to be where it’s at. “Polos have a great niche in the apparel world,” says Heather Brunner, marketing manager at Charles River Apparel (asi/44620). “They’re more upscale than T-shirts and less expensive than jackets. Plus, they’re available in a huge spectrum of colors, designs and styles; are easy to decorate; and can convey a casual to dressy look.”

While embroidery is the traditional go-to for polo embellishment, sublimation is getting hotter right now. “This year, we introduced sublimation onto more polos than we have in previous years,” says Jason Neve, marketing/communications coordinator and graphic designer for Boardroom Custom Clothing (asi/40705). “Traditionally, sublimation has been reserved for base layers and layering jackets, but lately we’ve had many customers asking us to sublimate bright, dynamic artwork onto our polo. The result is a polo that really stands out and gets noticed.”

As far as patterns, micro stripes are a new trend. “It breaks up the monotony of your solid polo,” says Kevin Giron of Driving Impressions (asi/50864). “From a distance it looks like it’s heathered or a lighter shade of the color you’re wearing, but up close it has very fine striping that isn’t unflattering the way broad stripes can be.”

Product Hub
Find the latest in quality products, must-know trends and fresh ideas for upcoming end-buyer campaigns.