New swag trends seen at ASI Chicago

The Printfection team was on the ground at ASI Chicago, which is the major summer trade show for the promotional product industry. It’s a great hunting ground for new products and vendors and we loved getting an early look into new offerings. Read on for a roundup of some of the trends we spotted, plus our favorite new swag items and brands.

Versatile and innovative drinkware

Drinkware is always a top category for swag given its functionality and frequent use by recipients. At the show, we spotted an increase in versatile designs and features. Trending styles included a chug, easy-pour spout for easy, no-spill drinking on the go and sip-style lids with a straw that is either silicone or integrated into the cap.

Bindle Bottle — This brand offers a unique “Sip on top, stash on the bottom” design by including a weatherproof storage compartment in the bottom of their bottles. It’s big enough to safely stash your ID, keys, and cash, along with your favorite snack for later to stay hydrated and organized.

Asobu Drinkware — Their Dog Water Bowl bottle comes equipped with a detachable silicone bowl at the base of the bottle that can be used as a drinking bowl for pets. It’s lightweight, heavy duty, and anti-slip, making it the perfect companion for walks with your dog. They also carry UV light water-purifying bottles as well, which continue to increase in popularity.

TEMPERCRAFT — They have a fantastic line of stainless steel sport bottles, tumblers, and mugs along with specialty drinkware for storing your beer, wine, and spirits. Fun fact: Their products are made in the same factory as YETI, so the quality is identical. Plus, they’re a member of 1% for the Planet.

Buttery soft apparel

We also saw more vendors offering buttery soft fabrics in their designs. When it comes to swag apparel, there’s always a desire for fashionable yet comfortable pieces. Quality materials and fit can always elevate a simple t-shirt into your new favorite piece that you find yourself reaching for again and again. We saw clothing made from a variety of fabrics like modal, bamboo, and French Terry, which all achieve a superior softness while maintaining style.

Alternative Apparel — This popular brand showcased a new mineral wash fabric for hoodies, pullovers, shorts, and shirts that is wonderfully smooth to the touch.

Cozy Earth — A retail “lounge” brand, offering luxury robes, apparel, and bedding. They’re new to the promo products industry and a great option for super soft and comfy clothing.

Stormtech — A favorite of ours for a while now, Stormtech offers a wide range of apparel that is really soft and well constructed. Their products are great for active days and they offer everything from basics to outerwear and accessories.

We hope you enjoyed this snapshot of new products and that it can help inspire swag ideas to implement in the coming year. As always, you can reach out to your Customer Success Manager to learn more about these options and get help with any questions.