Comfy, Cozy Clothing Is Here To Stay
Pandemic restrictions may have made some folks feel trapped, but the lockdowns liberated others from the constraints of uncomfortable clothing. After a year or so of working from home, many workplace dress codes have relaxed, and comfy, cozy clothing is here to stay.
Coupled with the rise in demand for self-care products over the past few years, this makes promo apparel dedicated to comfort a must-have for 2023. Whether it’s logoed loungewear, promo PJs or even a branded blanket, items that provide a warm, fuzzy feeling – sometimes literally – can translate to good vibes for your clients.
“The general theme of cozy has carried over from the pandemic, and we’ve definitely done slippers and fuzzy socks,” says Kelly Brown, director of marketing and operations with Green Giftz, a Michigan-based distributor. “I don’t think that cozy vibe is really going anywhere.”
With celebs like Katie Holmes rocking loose, flowing pants – as well as actual pajamas – on both sidewalks and red carpets, it’s clear that comfortable clothes are here to stay.
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You can create your own custom pajama sets by pairing branded tees with lounge pants, or build a kit with a robe, slippers and other snuggly swag.
For a company-wide event in the fall, Taylor Borst, director of marketing events and PR with Minnesota-based distributor American Solutions for Business, put together a pre-event hype box that included a pair of pajama pants that everybody loved.
“It went over so well. They were all tickled that they got a pair of Boxercraft pajama pants that they could wear, and a lot of them said that they were wearing it in their hotel room as loungewear,” she said. “And then we paired that with a pair of slippers waiting for them in their room.”
Matching sweats have been trending, so that’s another cozy coupling that can go from loungewear to the gym and beyond.
Everyone in general is more casual than they used to be, says Kelli Denes, director of business development with The Vernon Company, an Iowa-based distributor, and joggers have become perfectly acceptable in a lot of settings.
“You can dress them up a little bit,” she says, “so it doesn’t look like you’re out in pajamas, but you can be comfortable.”
Here are some cozy pieces perfect for brand stores, employee gifts and more:
These Women’s Capri Scrunch Pants are great for employees working from home, running errands – or even running their morning mile. The cropped poly/cotton pants offer a relaxed fit and mid-rise waistband with adjustable drawstring. Available in deep heather gray (shown) and sizes S-2X.
BELLA + CANVAS / PPAI 304892, S6 / www.bellacanvas.com
Available in a dozen bright plaids, these Men’s Harley Flannel Pants can be branded on their own or paired with a matching tee for a custom PJ set. Made of double-brushed 100% cotton, these soft pants include a self-folded waistband with inner drawcord, hidden button-close fly and pockets. Sizes XXS-3X.
Boxercraft / PPAI 159420, S5 / www.boxercraft.com
Pair your branded pants with a short- or long-sleeved tee like this Gildan Adult Softstyle T-Shirt, with a seamless collar and tear-away label for added comfort. Available in a whopping 67 colors (shown in heather military green) and sizes XS-5X.
alphabroder|Prime Line / PPAI 156993, S16 / www.alphabroder.com
Custom socks are an easy, fun giveaway, says Brown, and high-quality custom socks are a lot more affordable than they used to be. These plush Fuzzy Socks can show off your client’s logo and message in up to three PMS colors, with the option to add rubber grips on the soles and retail-style packaging for an additional touch. Different designs on left and right available also.
Pop! Promos / PPAI 564497, S1 / www.poppromos.com
Recipients can snuggle their feet into these Comfy Plush Slippers with a soft plush terry upper and durable thick plastic sole. Available in navy, black and white (shown) and sizes XS/S (women’s 5-6.5) to M/L (men’s 10-12).
Suntex Industries / PPAI 113094, S5 / www.suntexindustries.com
The poly/cotton Sweatshirt Hoodie Robe marries two cozy classics into a single snuggly garment. Featuring a hood with drawcord, knitted sleeve cuffs, two patch pockets and a fabric belt closure, this knee-length coverup is perfect for water sports teams or just around-the-house leisure. Available in gray and sizes small and medium.
Terry Town / PPAI 230911, S10 / www.terrytown.com
Emblazon your client’s brand on one side of the 50x60-inch Faux Mink Suede Blanket with edge-to-edge full color imprint. With a suede texture on the print side and a faux sheepskin sherpa on the back side, this 100% polyester blanket is sure to keep recipients warm and cozy.
Hit Promotional Products / PPAI 113910, S14 / www.hitpromo.net
Is it a poncho? A blanket? A hoodie? Actually, it’s all three! The Custom Cozy Cape Hooded Blanket, made with sustainable/recycled material, features fuzzy fur on one side and a fully imprintable texture on the other side. Available in small (40x50-inch), medium (50x60-inch) and large (60x80-inch).
SOCK101 / PPAI 625402, S6 / www.sock101.com