Midwest Stitch Blog

Custom Padfolio

Custom padfolios are a classy and upscale way to stay organized and show off your company logo.  They also make great company giveaways, as they are unique, upscale, and one size fits all.  We'd like to show you our favorite custom padfolio.

The next time you’re taking a drive, look around and notice the amount of bright clothing being worn. Perhaps the most obvious is that worn by the workers in the roadway construction zones.  But look closer and I imagine you’ll see it other places as well.

Hi-Vis Fashion

Hi-vis clothing is about safety, but now it's about fashion as well.

There’s a fashion topic that is generating talk, at least in my circles.  It obviously is talk at work as we educate ourselves on new and trending apparel, but it has also come up among casual conversation with friends and I’ve read about it in the Wall Street Journal.   What’s all the talk about?  The disappearing chest pocket on men’s shirts.

If you haven’t noticed this trend yet, you will after today.  The Wall Street Journal, in an article titled “What Happened to the Shirt Pocket?” states, “there are no pockets on many of the woven shirts at retailers such as J. Crew and Banana Republic, along with a host of high-end designer labels and custom-made shirts. It’s fashion and it’s generational.” (Read the entire article here)

Anyone who shops realizes that clothing prices can vary widely.  This is true in the retail and in the corporate world.  In our showroom, for example, we have a wide range of choices for a single garment: the polo.  It starts with what I will call a ‘basic’ polo and progresses in construction and quality, name brands and recognition to what I will call a ‘high-end’ polo.  A customer may hold two polos, one in each hand, and at their first glance the garments appear to have a similar value.  But the price quote they just received belays that there must be something different about the two.  So they ask: “What’s the difference?”

If you are reading this you are likely involved in a non-for-profit organization where you come into contact with people who truly care about the same cause as you.  Together you are focused on getting the word out about your cause.  The ways to do this are endless, but no doubt you recognize the importance of spending time and money where it does the most good.

Could branded apparel fill a niche in your marketing agenda?  To answer this question, I reached out to some of our non-for-profit customers, particularly in the animal rescue segment.  I’d like to share their responses coupled with some insights gleaned in the past 21 years of business.  Here are four reasons your non-for-profit organization (NFP) needs quality garments.

Everyone likes a good story. Stories can make us think and stick with us long after they are told. And old Native American proverb says, “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.”

In business stories are created every day.  They may not all “live forever in our hearts”, but they have power nonetheless.  A good story about the sticking power of promotional items can have a greater effect than facts and figures.

Opportunities to advertise your business are many and varied, ranging from traditional TV, radio, and newspaper to the Internet, direct mail, social media and more.  In this technological age, and from a marketing standpoint, does it really make sense to spend money on branded apparel for your business?  To answer this question, I ask you to think of your closet.

Your Closet

I am a lover of cotton.  No doubt about it.  Sure, I wear garments made of other fibers, especially being in the apparel industry.  But my favorites always have some cotton fibers.  That is until I tried this Ladies Tech Jacket.  Seriously – I tell you about my love of cotton so that you believe me as I rave about this 100% polyester jacket.

Where do I even begin to describe this jacket?  Well, since I’m also a lover of gadgets, I think I’ll start with its abundant features.  For example, this ladies version has thumbholes, which besides being cool, make it a perfect layering piece.  You won’t have that annoying sleeve bunched up to your elbow when you layer it under a heavier jacket or outer shell. 

Some ladies don’t like collars.  This can present a challenge in a business world dominated by the collared polo.  But now and then a manufacturer for corporate apparel will unveil a professional looking piece designed with ladies in mind and, more importantly, with no collar.  Here is such a piece. 

It is the favorite of KD who is one of our Production employees who skillfully runs the embroidery machines.  She says, “I like the look of it, but also that it is very comfortable.”  This may be true because of the light polyester fabric with a touch of stretch so that it flows and moves with you.  The fabric is also wrinkle-resistant.  KD further describes the garment as “comfy, casual and stylish.”

During hot summer days no one likes to get (and stay) sweaty, especially when you’re trying to look presentable for business.  Garments that wrinkle as soon as you put your seat belt on are also a challenge.  Problems like these are solved by many modern performance fabrics.  This favorite of our sales person and digitizer, Carla, is no exception. 

The fabric of this favorite garment wicks moisture away from your body, and also provides a bit of stretch for ease of movement.  Both men’s and ladies’ version have subtle two-color stripes that add a bit of character to the garment.  Unique to the ladies’ version are raglan sleeves with ruching, and unique to the men’s version is a solid contrast color collar.

Corporate menswear is not known for frequent swings in fashion.  It does however, evolve over time.  One retail trend in the past decade that now is clearly set in the corporate world is a trimmer fit across men's apparel.  

Button-up shirts, for example, are available in classic, traditional silhouettes as well as more modern, trimmer fits.  Some of the common descriptors of these slightly fitted shirts are words such as fitted, active, modern, or slim. 

We’ve been sharing blog posts featuring some of the favorite garments of Midwest Stitch employees since the beginning of the year.  But today, June 25th – National Catfish Day, seems the most appropriate day to share this favorite of Andy, one of our sales reps.

His favorite is a fishing shirt, complete with ventilated polyester mesh under the back yoke, fly box pockets, fishing rod holder, tool holder and utility loop.  The nylon fabric also provides UPF 30 sun protection.

The Midwest Stitch employee favorite featured here has a broken-in attitude great for casual business or after hours.  It is a lightweight, 100% ring spun combed cotton slub chambray shirt.  Adding visual appeal are the two-tone fibers and its lived-in look.  The soft, washed fabric makes this a very comfortable woven shirt. This button-down shirt is a favorite of Jesse, who works in our Production department.  "It's comfortable and fits really well, which is not always the case for me."  The men's style has a modern, trim fit with two front pockets.  "It's also very lightweight," he adds.   A ladies version is also available in a flattering cut with back princess seams. Both styles come in the the grey and light blue colors shown here.  If this business casual style is a fit for your image let us know and we'd be happy to show you a sample.

 

This favorite garment is a great piece for the ladies who are looking for something designed just for them.  This piece is definitely not a restructured men's polo.  This tunic has a self fabric, open collar, with a 6-button placket.  It sports 3/4 sleeves with ruching, a pleat at the back yoke, and a playful drawcord waist.