PRINTING United Expo 2026: 4 trends in Apparel & decoration. Suppliers and equipment manufacturers brought out new twists on old standbys and automation solutions to increase throughput. Key Takeaways - Apparel trends at PRINTING United Expo leaned toward heavyweight fleece, boxy silhouettes, mock necks, garment dyes and muted colors. - Made-in-USA apparel continues to attract interest, with suppliers pointing to quality, domestic supply chains and tariff-related uncertainty as key factors. - Equipment manufacturers showed off new automated heat-transfer systems designed to increase throughput. There was plenty to see in the ASI Pavilion and nearby Apparel Zone at this year's PRINTING United Expo, held from Sept. 23 to 25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Whether it was a heavyweight, oversized fleece with a lived-in garment dye or a new carousel press that automates heat-transfer application, suppliers and equipment manufacturers were chock-full of solutions for distributors and decorators to stay on trend and in demand. 1. Fleece gets an upgrade. Heavyweight fleece with a boxy, relaxed fit continues to be popular, but apparel suppliers are adding new touches to build interest and capture Gen Z's eclectic tastes. Bella+Canvas (asi/39590) recently released two new fleece styles: a 10-ounce half-zip pullover sweatshirt with a heavy silver-tone zipper and a boxy fit. A women's version of the same style is more cropped and slightly shrunken, while retaining the boxy fit of the unisex version. The other new style, a 10-ounce polo sweatshirt, features a polo collar and horn buttons. "We're kind of leaning into this collegiate, heritage thing that's trending in the market," said Eboni Hudson, head of marketing. Another trending twist on fleece is mock necks - a short upright collar sitting higher than a regular crewneck but lower than a turtleneck. Many credit the viral Parke mock-neck sweatshirts, which feature the designer's name in large collegiate-style appliqué across the front, as fueling the trend. LAT Apparel (asi/65948) showed off a unisex mock-neck fleece. "This is probably the hottest item in the industry today," said Dustin Moe, senior director of distributor sales, adding that places like airports are filled with people sporting the neckline. 2. Made in USA still a draw. Bayside Apparel (asi/30224) touted its Made-in-the-USA vertical manufacturing model at PRINTING United Expo. As America's 250th anniversary comes to a close, U.S.-made garments and accessories are retaining their appeal. Francis Ha, sales executive at Bayside Apparel (asi/30244), attributes the popularity to both the quality of the garments and some continued tariff-related uncertainties making the price of Made-in-USA products more competitive. Plus, he said, there's a customer service benefit with having apparel made close to home. "We're all here," he said. "We understand the lingo and the industry. All your questions will be answered." Bayside, which has been around since 1995, has a fully vertical operation, owning all its own facilities from knitting to dyeing to final cut and sew, Ha said. Expert Brand (asi/53404), which specializes in U.S.-made performance apparel, has also noted the resurging interest in domestic manufacturing. The supplier works on a number of large custom apparel programs for the U.S. military, with the Marine Corps, for example, training in its quick-dry, moisture-wicking shirts for the last 15 years, according to Alex Ketterling, director of brand marketing. Her take on the popularity bump for Made in the USA? "We like supporting the community locally - voting with our dollars, basically," she said. 3. Faded colors & muted tones. Stanley/Stella (asi/89011) showed off its sun-faded garment dye collection at the show. Several equipment manufacturers at PRINTING United were showing off neon and fluorescent ink capabilities. Kornit, for example, marked the North American trade show debut of its Atlas MATRIX, an enhanced direct-to-garment system that can decorate across cotton, polyester and blends while maintaining consistent quality. The machine also includes neon ink capabilities, an extended-gamut setup to create eye-catching colors, according to the company. Despite the trend toward brightness in decoration, the blanks themselves aren't quite as showy. Aamir Madha, director of sales at Smart Blanks (asi/87811), said "muted, earthy tones" were in demand. Hudson of Bella+Canvas pointed to "true burgundy" as the "hero color" of the supplier's fall 2026 catalog. Garment dyes, washes and "extreme distress" are also on trend, as end-users seek out that lived-in, vintage feel. Dan Bush, decoration lab manager for Stanley/Stella (asi/89011), pointed to the supplier's unique garment-dyeing process that provides high and low colors for a "sun-faded," textural look. 4. Innovations in automatic transfers. Stahls' (asi/88984) demonstrated how to decorate transfers, like this one-color screen-printed transfer, on its new carousel heat press. As always, the Expo floor was also packed with a variety of equipment for embroidery, screen printing and digital decoration. Automation continues to be a huge trend. Among the noteworthy releases this year was the ROQ ID Press, a compact machine that the company said brings high-speed automation to small-format transfers. It's ideal for heat printing tags on shirts as well as decorating bags, can coolers and other products, according to ROQ. Stahls' (asi/88984) was showing off the capabilities of a new Hotronix six-station carousel heat press, which includes three heaters, an automated transfer placer and optional automatic peeler. The operator just has to load the transfers and the shirts, then unload shirts when they're done. "You have one operator essentially with the capabilities to do 300 to 400 garments an hour," said Dave Conner, director of product marketing. That's more than double the capacity of the company's dual-station heat presses, he added. The machine works for a variety of transfers, including direct to film and screen-printed transfers. "You have the capability to easily say yes to a 5,000-piece one-color job and then turn around and say yes to 200 pieces for a 12-color job with some direct-to-film transfers or hybrid transfers," Conner said. "You have the flexibility to really leverage all of these solutions." Print & Promo Marketing is your source for news, commentary and strategy for the promotional products, commercial print and product decoration industries.

Breakaway Music Festival and BELLA+CANVAS expand U.S. Partnership to elevate festival merchandise through interactive fan experiences. Aug 07, 2026, 13:48 ET LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Following a successful inaugural partnership in 2025, Breakaway Music Festival, the nation's largest independent touring music festival, and industry-leading blank apparel brand BELLA+CANVAS, have announced an expanded partnership for the 2026 Breakaway Music Festival season, with BELLA+CANVAS returning as Breakaway's Official Merchandise Blanks Partner across its nationwide festival tour. Through this expanded collaboration, BELLA+CANVAS will provide the premium blank apparel that serves as the foundation for Breakaway's official merchandise program, transforming festival merchandise from a traditional souvenir into a wearable extension of the fan experience. As festival merchandise continues to evolve beyond a traditional keepsake into a reflection of identity, community and cultural moments, Breakaway Music Festival and BELLA+CANVAS are expanding the role of apparel through customization and interactive fan experiences, creating new opportunities for fans to personalize the pieces that represent their connection to Breakaway, turning merchandise into a lasting reminder of the moments shared both inside and beyond the festival grounds. Most recently, the partnership came to life during Breakaway Takeover at Wynn Las Vegas, where more than 600 attendees participated in an interactive merchandise activation featuring live apparel customization and giveaways. The experience invited fans to create personalized pieces tied to the event, demonstrating how festival merchandise can serve as both a creative outlet and a tangible connection to the moments that define live entertainment experiences. "What started as a merchandise partnership has evolved into a strategic collaboration that continues to raise the bar for our fan experience," said Tiffanie Hauger, VP of Brand Partnerships and Activation at Breakaway. "BELLA+CANVAS's products have transformed our merchandise offerings, helping fuel meaningful growth while reinforcing the quality and creativity our audience has come to expect from Breakaway. As our events continue to expand, so does the opportunity to innovate together. Adding experiences like customization stations showcase how thoughtful brand integration can create genuine excitement for fans while delivering value for both of our brands. We're incredibly proud of what we've built together and look forward to continuing that momentum in the seasons ahead." "At BELLA+CANVAS, we believe the best merchandise doesn't just commemorate an event. Merch is a tangible form of self-expression and belonging - a signal to our community that we were there, too," said Eboni Hudson, Head of Marketing at BELLA+CANVAS. "Breakaway has built a festival experience where creativity, music, and culture intersect, making it the ideal partner to bring that vision to life. As we expand our partnership this season, we're excited to continue personalizing the merchandise experience through best-in-class fashion blanks and interactive moments that allows us to connect directly with our community while also providing fans the opportunity to create merch that's uniquely their own." Throughout the remainder of the 2026 Breakaway Music Festival season, Breakaway will continue to work with BELLA+CANVAS to power its merchandise offerings while supporting fan-facing merchandise experiences and activations across the nationwide festival tour. Upcoming festival stops include Breakaway Breakaway Michigan (August 14-15), Breakaway Mass (August 21-22), Breakaway Philadelphia (September 11-12), Breakaway Carolina (September 25 -26), Breakaway Utah (Oct 2-3), and Breakaway Houston (November 13-14), with additional information available at BreakawayFestival.com. About Breakaway Breakaway is the nation's leading independent live entertainment brand, operating as a dynamic flywheel spanning live music, artist services, event management and operations, digital media, and experiential activations. Its tentpole touring music festivals deliver premium experiences to underserved music fans across the country. Since its inception, the festival has expanded into multiple cities and grown into a two-day, multi-stage event in every market. The brand champions accessibility, music, art, creativity, and community. Breakaway also creates cultural moments through "Breakaway Presents," a series of pop-up events in markets such as Miami and Las Vegas. The company remains dedicated to discovering and amplifying the 'next big thing' in music through its record label and artist-management division, Breakaway Projects. Learn more at teambreakaway.com. About BELLA+CANVAS BELLA+CANVAS is the premium blank apparel company shaping culture and empowering creators through elevated essentials designed for self-expression. Founded in Los Angeles, the brand combines industry-leading craftsmanship and design with an uncompromising focus on fit, feel, and finish to create premium blank apparel for brands, decorators, printers, and creators. Rooted in the communities where culture moves first, BELLA+CANVAS helps bring ideas to life with apparel designed to be worn, shared, and amplified with confidence. BELLA+CANVAS products are available through authorized wholesale partners nationwide and trusted by print professionals and creators around the world. For more information, visit bellacanvas.com. SOURCE Breakaway