By James Andres

It’s a new year, and hopefully a new you. Retail and wholesale designers haven’t missed a beat, as they’ve turned out new styles and colors to match must-wear 2021 fashion trends. 

We’ve picked five of them that appeal to a wide audience, and paired them with new and existing styles from our inventory to help you spark ideas for your clients.

1. Matching Tracksuits
Remember when Run-D.M.C. made matching tracksuits, and of course those famous shelltops, iconic with the video for their song “My Adidas?” Back in the ‘90s, lots of sportswear brands like FILA and Kappa turned out tracksuits made in luxe fabrications like velour and silk. We watched rappers and music artists rock out in these head-to-toe looks for promo tours, photoshoots and interviews all the time. 

Now, circa Y2K matching tracksuits are back on the scene, from designers like Miu Miu, Balenciaga and Y/Project, with that fashion-meets-comfort appeal. Comfort is becoming the number 1 priority in people’s lives these days, so this look is popping up everywhere. You’ll see these styles in retail made of velour, sueded fleece, silk, and even satin.

J. America’s Women’s Rival Fleece Collection is a modern take on those tracksuits, made with sueded fleece, and includes a matching side-striped leg. This look is sure to be popular with the college crowd  Women’s Rival Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt and J. America – Women’s Rival Fleece Joggers.
Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvWXpNDnl1/?utm_source=ig_embed

A few things we love about these matched pairs: The sweatshirt has a contrast hood and roomy front pocket, while the joggers’ throwback vibe looks great with athletic sneaks. Plus, they come in popular core colors: Black, Red, Navy and Royal. If you’re clients are looking to offer or print on hooded sweatshirts, try to sell them on adding in a pair of matching joggers too.  

2. Black & White Monochromatic Looks
During the past several months, many designers started gravitating towards pairing black-and-white together in their designs. Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Ports 1961 and Gabriela Hearst presented striking, stark styles that sparked a lot of second glances, and this classic color combo is supposed to be popular.

As neutral colors still seem to be the go-to in this industry, your clients will love Independent Trading’s unique take on black and white, with their new Midweight Tie-Dyed Hooded Sweatshirt. 

This style sports a tie-dyed black hue, along with shades of white sprinkled throughout hoodie. And what’s even more exciting about it is that they’ve even made a matching pair of pants to go along with hoodie. 

The Tie-Dyed Fleece Pants give you the opportunity to put three popular trends together (Tie-Dye, Matching Tracksuits and Black & White color styling) for your clients. The relaxed fit joggers have a comfort waist and both jersey-lined hand and back pockets – perfect for “every-day-of-the-week” wear. 

The sweatshirt also comes in other brighter whimsy color combos like Tie-Dye Aqua Blue, Tie-Dye Cotton Candy, Tie-Dye Pink and Tie-Dye Sunset Swirl—for those positive days ahead.

3. Unisex Styles
For 2021, designers showed a predilection for unisex wear, hallmarked by a clean minimalism meant to fit all styles, genders and ages. Simpler, more graphical “logo” messages are still key to expression, in line with these styles’ clean lines. Flexibility is also important, in basics that can be worn day to night, for work, play and everything in between.

Next Level’s Unisex Triblend Three-Quarter Sleeve Raglan is a great everyday staple for just about, well, everyone. With classic raglan sleeves that still make a sporty fashion statement, you can get this side-seamed style in more than 20 on-trend color combos like Envy Sleeves/Heather White, Purple Rush Sleeves/Heather White, Vintage Red Sleeves/Heather Black and Tahiti Blue Sleeves/Heather White.

Check out PRIM + PREUX’s Unisex Energy Quarter-Zip Pullover, a style that offers a classic, modern fit—with wicking, UPF-protective and antimicrobial qualities—for truly versatile, multi-season wear. Because workplace continues to get more and more casual, this piece presents a perfect middle-ground for the new generation of workers.

4. Shades of Pink
Hues reminiscent of bubblegum and pastel pink candy head this spring’s color brigade. We’re seeing energetic shades from cherry to raspberry on the runways from Chloé, Prada and Chanel. Yes, shades of pastel pink are easier to integrate into everyday wear, but you’ll also see wearable iterations of saturated and neon pinks that people are loving.

Pink hues fit perfectly into on-trend looks—and this color family looks great on all kinds of apparel. Independent Trading Co.’s Women’s Lightweight Quarter-Zip Pullover Crop Windbreaker is an easy-breezy long-sleeve crop style in flattering Blush/White Zipper. 

In T-shirts, we’re loving Alternative’s loose and flowy Women’s Slub Inside Out Tee in Rose Quartz Pigment and BELLA + CANVAS’ retail-fitted Unisex CVC Jersey Tee, in Bubblegum and Charity Pink. 

Top off a head-turning look with Outdoor Cap’s Ponytail Mesh-Back Cap, in Lavender/Tea. And don’t forget to throw in those old school high-rise socks. SOCCO makes one of the most comfortable pair you’ll ever put on, so grab some USA-Made Striped Crew Socks, in Pink/White.

5. Earth Tones
Image: Comfort 2
Caption: In Photo: Comfort Colors – Garment-Dyed Heavyweight Collection – 1717, 6014, 6030
Designers like Cinq á Sept, Vivienne Hu, Ulla Johnson, Adeam and Julia Jentzsch sent models down the runways with neutral earth tones, showing that these quieter colors can still make a statement. This season’s hot earth shades include rust reds, mustard yellows and deep browns—and they look great on almost everyone.

You can keep these on-trend shades casual in Comfort Colors’ 100% ringspun cotton Garment-Dyed Heavyweight Pocket T-Shirt, which comes in a variety of appealing hues including Burnt Orange, Mustard and Brick. If your client wants an eco-conscious tee, try on Alternative’s unisex fit Organic Crewneck Tee, made of 100% organic cotton and comes in Red Clay and Yellow Ochre.

For a cool accessory, we also like Richardson’s rugged Seven-Panel Trucker Cap, in Pale Khaki/Loden Green, showing that earthy tones can look great head to toe.

Your clients and their end-users want logoed styles that make them look great at work or out and about. When you present your buyer with up-to-the-minute fashion trends and corresponding styles, they’ll be excited to build out their 2021 apparel programs with you.

James Andres is the Content Manager for S&S Activewear. Contact: [email protected].