This Just In: Reverse Appliqué Apparel

While recently attending the New England Apparel Show, our owners discovered a new trend many of the vendors were now carrying: reverse appliqué.  Mostly used for school and team apparel, reverse appliqué offers a distinctively different look to spirit wear.

Instead of letter which is traditionally screen printed, embroidered, or cut and sewn onto the top of a shirt,  the reverse appliqué process cuts the lettering out of the garment, then a contrasting piece of fabric is placed behind the cutouts and stitched onto the garment so as to show through the holes.  The result is very hip and stylish.  Interested in a sweatshirt for your team or school?  Contact us, or stop in to our showroom to see samples and for more information.

What we've been working on this week

This week we got to assist the Easter Bunny with a very special task: creating a little girl's dream bedding set.  Apparently, this little girl has been looking everywhere for a set of sheets with golden retrievers on them, but to no avail.  So, not one to take "no" for a n answer, the "Easter Bunny" came our way and we were happy to help him out.  We embroidered this Pillow Sham with a large Retriever head, embroidered three small Goldens on the pillow case and along the top edge of the flat sheet, and  stitched another large Golden retriever head in the center of the comforter and added a few scattered, smaller retrievers around him.  The result went over quite well, or so the "Easter Bunny" reports to us.

Featured Item: Rayon (from Bamboo) Long Sleeve Dress Shirt

One of the world's most renewable plants, bamboo grows up to a foot a day without the use of chemical pesticides.  Bamboo charcoal technology uses high heat to convert bamboo into charcoal - which is then made into a soft polyester fabric that naturally wicks moisture.  When used to develop rayon from bamboo fabric, bamboo offers a soft hand and breathable wear, making bamboo fabrics a superior Earth-friendly apparel item as well as an excellent choice for warm weather apparel.

This lightweight yarn dyed poplin shirt is made with sustainable bamboo rayon, boasts an exceptionally soft drape and hand, and features  reinforced top-stitching on armholes, shoulder seams and back yoke. It is available for Men and Ladies in several attractive colors.  It's sure to become your new go-to shirt and today and tomorrow you can still get it at 15% off as part of our April "Eco Fabrics" sale.  

E-Catalog: Red House Corporate Wear

Red House is the wardrobe of choice for those who enjoy a relaxed and refined lifestyle.  Unequaled in craftsmanship and materials, our Red House line offers casual luxury clothing designed with a sophisticated sense of style.  Red House is also a perfect choice for crisp, professional work wear for your employees.  Check out their latest offerings in their latest e-catalog.

Thing that's making us smile this week

So this one has been making the rounds this week, but really... how many times is too many times to see it?  It's definitely something to make everyone smile!

Brand your Business: Earth-Friendly Pens

Earth Day may have come and gone, but there is no reason why we can't strive to incorporate changes into our daily lives - and business practices - that will provide a lasting effect all year round.  One such way is to make the switch to Earth Friendly fabrics, another is to switch to Earth-friendly plastics.  Numerous items now come in biodegradable plastics, and some plastics are now being made from corn instead of petroleum.  These pens are an example of both.  Biodegradable, corn plastic pens are a great way to show your customers that you care about the environment, your community, and the world.  It can also reinforce a company's image of natural products or eco-consciousness.  For more earth-friendly promotional items, check out our online catalog, or give us a call and we'll draw up a presentation just for your organization.

What we've been working on this week

The Miss NH pageant program helps to empower young women in our state by awarding scholarship money to those competing for the title, demonstrating a level of excellence in scholastic achievement, performing arts, healthy living, leadership and community involvement. Recently, 63 different contestants shared in nearly $82,000.00 in scholarships granted at the local level. We were so pleased to be asked to digitize their brand new logo, in honor of their 65th anniversary, and embroider jackets for the women competing this past week.  The competition begins next week and we wish all the contestants much luck and success.

Featured Item: Anvil 5 oz., 100% Organic Cotton T-Shirt

Earth Day is tomorrow, but Earth day is about more than just 24 hours, it's about changing your day to day mindset about how our lives affect the environment and the world around us.  One small step which can have huge impact is to choose Earth-friendly fabrics.  Clothing and accessories made from soybeans, bamboo, recycled textile scraps and even recycled glass and plastics use less land and fossil fuels, produce less air pollution and fewer carcinogens, and generate less waste than traditional cotton and poly apparel.  Another great fabric choice is Organic Cotton.  Not only is it better for the environment, but -like many other eco fabrics -  it is super-soft! Want to say hello to your new favorite t-shirt?  Meet our Anvil Organic tee.  It's available for Men,  Ladies and Youth and it's so comfy you'll never want to take it off.  (And hey - if you never wash it, think of all the gallons of water you'll save too!) This April, save the earth and save 15% on any of our featured Earth-friendly fabrics and start making everyday Earth Day.

E-Catalog: New Era Caps & Hats

For over 90 years, New Era has been creating quality caps for cultural influencers in sports, entertainment, fashion and music.  With unerring attention to detail, each cap is designed for the visionary... boundary breakers doing their own thing.  To check out the very latest that this company has to offer, check out their latest e-catalog.  To place an order or for more info, contact us.

Thing that's making us smile this week

OK, long ago we saw how much fun you could have reading Garfield Minus Garfield and how small changes can have unintentional and hysterical consequences in our favorite comic strips.  Now comes 3eanuts. The idea is simple but brilliant: Take America's most beloved, warm & fuzzy comic strip, Peanuts, and change it into a deep, brooding, existential think piece simply by removing the last frame.

Brand your Business: Lip Balm

These days you can get literally almost anything you can think of personalized to use as a promotional item for your organization. One of our favorites has to be lip balm.  Much like pens, everyone uses lip balm - some do multiple times throughout the day - and each time that customer reaches for the tube, there is your name popping up in front of their eyes again.  When it really comes down to it, that's what it's all about.  Promotional items are a wonderful way to thank your customers, but they are also extremely effective of keeping your business or group "top of mind" with your clientel.  For more ideas, check out our online catalog.

What we've been working on this week

It's Spring!  Have you noticed?  Well WE have! Not only is the extra sunshine giving us all a little extra bounce in our step, but we're also seeing more and more work coming in for the upcoming Spring & Summer sports season.  This week we completed this super cool design for the back of a racing jacket.  We're sure this driver will be zipping along even faster with this sharp looking jacket on his back!  Give us a call or stop in to our showroom to see what special design we can embroider or screen print for you!

Featured Item: Soybean Cotton Spandex Jersey Polo

In the past 10 years, amid growing demand from customers, the market has become more and more receptive to Earth-friendly fabrics, and a growing collection of eco-friendly apparel and accessories have been designed and distributed on the principle of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. Over the course of the past few years, our e.c.o line has grown to an impressive 50+ styles. This innovative collection uses fabrics derived from organic, sustainable, renewable and recycled fibers. One of our favorite products are these sport shirts made from Soybean fiber.

  

Soybean fiber is a renewable, biodegradable resource that is a waste byproduct of the soybean production process. It creates a remarkably soft garment with a nice weight to it.  Once you try these shirts, traditional fabrics just won't do it for you anymore! This month save 15% on these items, and all our Eco-Apparel & accessories.  To view more items within our  e.c.o collection, click here.

E-Catalog: 2011 Sport-Tek collection

Spring is now finally in full-swing! Even though some days are cool and rainy, you simply can't ignore that it time to start thinking about Spring and Summer sports, getting outside, and being active.  Whatever you need for your Spring and Summer active wear, we can help!  This catalog is a great primer for your active wear wardrobe.  If you're into yoga, basketball, track or just general exercise, you'll find something in here that's fun, fresh and oh-so you!  You can find more apparel on our website or contact us and let us help outfit you, your business or your team in style!

Thing that's making us smile this week

It's FREE CONE DAY!  One of the very best days of the whole year, Free Cone Day is when your local Ben & Jerry's shop gives anyone who stops in between noon and 8pm a totally and completely free ice cream cone.What doesn't make you smile about that? Plus, many shops will be combining Free Cone Day with a chance to raise money for local non-profits, so not only do you get a free treat, but you can also get a chance to help others in your community.  Win-win!  So get out there and have a Chunky Monkey for us and SMILE!

Brand your Business: Flowers!

Oh yeah, not only does the calender say it's Spring but FINALLY we believe it.  It was simply the most gorgeous of weekends and everywhere you went, people were smiling, working in their yards,  washing the windows, or just sitting out in the fresh air, soaking in the sunshine.  It's amazing how that first truly warm Spring day changes your whole outlook, makes you want to change over your whole wardrobe to shorts and t-shirts, and firmly believe that there will never be another day under 60 degrees for another 6 months.  So how do you harness this optimism for your next promotion?  How about live flowers or seeds?  Is your venue hosting a Spring wedding?  Is your hotel offering a Spring getaway package?  Is your restaurant holding an Easter day brunch?  Heck, even if you operate a tow truck, giving out a package of bulbs or seeds, or even a live daffodil to your customers (branded with your company logo) is going to brighten their day and their opinion of your service.  Then you both get to enjoy that "sunny day" feeling!

Featured Item: Playback Recycled PET bottle T-shirts

Did you know that Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour?  Also, the average American throws away about 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per year. What to do?  Embrace the ever-growing industry that makes clothing from recycled cotton and polyester!  Our line of  Playback recycled cotton T-shirts and sweatshirts is made from collecting post-industrial cotton scraps and plastic and glass bottles and sorting them by color.  All materials are then broken down into fibers and spun into yarn. By creating colors from the original recycled component (like beer bottle brown and water cooler blue), not only are less chemical dyes used, but the colors are richer and more complex than conventionally-made clothing.

Recycled poly apparel is super-soft, super-wearable and super-cute!  This month, purchase any of our featured Earth-Friendly fabrics and SAVE 15%!  So help out the Earth a little AND help yourself to a new wardrobe while you're at it!

E-Catalog: 2011 Teamwear

Yes! It's April, it's kinda warm, and at long last the sun is shining!  Maybe Spring really will come to the north after all!  On a day like today, so bright and full of possibilities, it's not hard to believe that Spring sports really are starting all around the region.  We offer the best in uniforms and team apparel - embroidered or unembroidered.  Take a look at a small sampling here.  If there's anything special your team requires that you don't see, just give as a call at 603-444-0130.

Thing that's making us smile this week

How many of us just float through our days unaware of the impact we can or do have on the others we come in contact with?  Not Michael Chase.  As the creator of "The Kindness Center," Michael challenges each of us to remember how truly inspiring and even life changing, the simplest acts of kindness can be.  Check out his website or new book, "Am I Being Kind?" and just see if his approach doesn't bring a smile to your face!

April Newsletter: Hat Sale, New website, and Earth-Friendly Fabrics

It's April, and we've already survived our first (and hopefully only) April snowstorm.  Have you checked out our latest newsletter?  Spring is definitely making us frisky!  We've recently unveiled our brand new website and we're still in love with it! We announced a Nike Golf  sport shirt which has been recently discontinued and is currently 50% off.  Also, we're featuring TWO sales this Spring!  In honor of Earth Day, we're promoting Earth-Friendly fabrics this month.  From bamboo to modal,  Recycled Poly blends to Soy Bean based fabrics, our eco-friendly merchandise is high-quality and low "footprint." Purchase any of our specially marked items this month and save 15%.  PLUS, we're in the Spring-cleaning mood, so stop in to our 42 Cottage Street location and purchase ANY of our in-stock hats for just ONE DOLLAR.

If you're not getting our monthly newsletter, you're really missing out!  Be sure not to miss out, sign up here and be the first to hear about sales, discontinued items and all the latest news.

Brand your Business: Vehicle Magnets

Some promotional products are very business or situation specific, some work for any business or organization. Personally, we don't think there is any business out there which couldn't benefit from ordering personalized car door magnets.  Much in the same way that wearing a hat or shirt embroidered with your business' name on it serves as a reminder or conversation opener  with people you come into contact with, using your vehicle to showcase your organization spreads awareness and recognition of it with most everyone you drive past.  Best of all, you don't have to worry about the potential damage caused by bumper stickers or vinyl lettering.  Upping the visibility of your brand has never been easier!  For more promotional products and ideas, check out our online catalog.