Molly Dress | Yacht Club. Photo courtesy of Mary Sqaure.

“Customers are looking for easy, throw-on-and-go pieces that still make them feel put-together,” said Krista Brown, vice president of sales at Mary Square.

Mary Square and Town Pride — two apparel wholesalers in the specialty retail industry — share what trends they are seeing and how customers of all ages can keep in fashion while being comfortable.

MARY SQUARE

Mary Square brings a fresh perspective to the apparel market by combining fashion-forward silhouettes with original, handdrawn prints, Brown said. Each design is exclusive to the Mary Square brand.

Women’s Alli Shorts Set | Aloha Green. Mary Square.

“Our typical customer is a woman who wants to feel confident, comfortable and stylish — whether she’s running errands, chasing kids around, heading to brunch or traveling for the weekend,” she said.Brown said there is a big shift toward effortless style — with dresses leading the way. Apparel that includes flowy silhouettes, tiered skirts and feminine details, like ruffles and puff sleeves, are in high demand. Brown said Mary Square is also seeing a return to color as women step away from basic neutrals and gravitate toward bold prints and vibrant tones.“Originality is key; shoppers want dresses that are unique and eye-catching,not something that everyone else is wearing," she said.

Raya Dress/Green/Mary Square

Mary Square is expanding its collection this season with new styles that blend together comfort, style and originality. The dress collection will continue to grow — adding effortless, statement-making pieces for everyday wear, travel or special moments. The wholesaler also introduced more textured solids: elevated basics with detail and dimension that add a polished touch to any outfit.

Mary Square’s consistent bestsellers include its signature printed tops and dresses — the Cameron Dress, Molly Dress and Maggie Top — as well as marching sets. Brown said customers love them for their flattering fit and unique patterns.

Mary Square also refreshed its bestselling styles with seasonal prints and updated colorways to give customers more to love in the silhouettes they already know and trust.

Collins Swimsuit | Blue. Mary Square.

One of the newest additions includes its CloudSilk collection with an ultra-soft, breathable fabric. From tops to shorts designed for all-day wear, CloudSilk is quickly becoming a customer favorite for its comfort and versatility, Brown said.

Another top-selling category is its pajamas made with ButterSoft Fabric or LuxBlend fabric that look luxurious while offering a lightweight and breathable feel.

“We believe getting dressed — whether it’s for going out or staying in — should be a chance to say ‘yes’ to feeling your best,” Brown said. “Our pajamas are a true reflection of our Live Your Yes mission: encouraging women to embrace comfort, celebrate themselves and bring a little delight into even the simplest moments.”

TOWN PRIDE

Town Pride’s newest offerings include everything from baby onesies to adult sweatshirts and T-shirts — plus new icon knit sweaters.

Raglan Knit Sweaters. Town Pride.

“Every item we offer is made to order,” said Tamara Moran, president of Town Pride. “It allows buyers to create a collection that is just for them and consumers can not purchase online and really drives traffic into their store.”

Moran said Town Pride’s baby and kid line, Lil Town Pride, is quickly growing; buyers love the mommy-and-me options as well as outfitting the whole family. Due to high demand, Town Pride kids’ clothing quickly grew and resulted in the launch of baby clothes last year. Moran said both collections have strong and significant sales at retail.

Lil Town Pride collection added new icons and will launch more whimsical, fun icons designed with babies and kids in mind.

“What makes us special is our commitment to made in the USA, which can be very difficult to find for baby knit items especially,” she said.

Moran is also seeing “comfortable designs with a bit more structure” with trending colors of butter, lilac and hydrangea blue. Moran said comfort is key for women’s apparel: the type of fabric, a forgiving fit and easy care, which is showcased in Town Pride’s new women’s fashion T-shirts and a cozy crewneck.

Town Pride’s Everyday Hi Low Knit Sweater with a custom icon on the back is its current bestseller, followed closely by the striped version of the sweater.

“Our items are mostly sold as gifts to friends, family and especially grandparents. They love the quality, adorable designs and easy care — all are machine washable,” Moran said. “Parents love that they can outfit their entire family from baby to adult in coordinating or matching looks — very popular, especially around any holiday!”

Gameday Hoodie. Town Pride.

She expects to see higher quality and sustainable apparel options grow in the apparel market as well as a focus on apparel being made domestically. While Town Pride is already committed to creating its products in the U.S., the wholesaler is exploring the newest technologies of production, specifically around cotton and insulated drinkware.

Town Pride uses the United Nation’s 17 Goals of Sustainability as its model and mission. Moran said the company is always seeking the best sustainable ways to produce its apparel — from using new hemp yarn to how the clothing items are decorated — making sure the process limits or avoids water consumption, is chemical free and is energy efficient.

“Our sustainability extends past the limiting of packaging, using recycled materials and having a smaller footprint by manufacturing domestically,” she said. “We also have a large giveback initiative that supports many of the UN’s goals such as housing, food insecurity and education.”

She also believes companies will incorporate more retro designs into apparel.

“Retro inspirations are taken from the recent past versus vintage,” Moran said. “We are incorporating many design elements from the ’80s and ’90s stripes, brighter colors, short sets and a newer styled crop top, to name a few.”