Curtain Rises on Fall 2002
Fall will be a good season for legwear sales

Fall 2002 should be a good season for legwear sales as consumers
continue to view legwear as both a necessity and an accessory.
When the leaves begin to turn colors and summer runs into fall,
consumers will be looking for legwear made of quality yarns that are
comfortable with a soft hand and styles that are familiar, say legwear
manufacturers.

“Due to the events that have taken place since last season, consumers
are looking for trends that are reassuring and familiar,” says Dawn
Beechner, Manager of Merchandising for Americal Corporation.
“The new trend is to re-mix trends from the previous two seasons but in
a fresh, new way. This re-mixing of trends applies to the mixing of
brands, colors, fabrics, patterns and styles to create a look.”

Boots will continue to be a dominating force on the legwear scene
opening the door for sales of boot socks as well as tights and knee
socks.  “The most visible trend will be the boot worn with tights or knee
socks,” says Beechner.

Paul Lavitt Mills is offering a group of boot socks comprised of
sweater patterns, textures, Fairisles and Nordics in solid yarns as
well as luxurious marled and twisted yarns. Pickett Hosiery Mills will
offer a boot sock for both men and women in a nubby yarn with colored
nubs.

The menswear look will be another major influence on
the ladies’ legwear and apparel scene with menswear styling or
fabrications mixed with feminine detailing such as the tuxedo suit for
women, says Beechner.

“We see a stronger trend into the menswear patterns like stripes,
plaids, argyles and herringbone,” says Paul Lavitt’s Sherri Troup. “The
primary colors will be black, navy, charcoal, maroon, brown and ivory.
Accent colors are used to create a bold mood, a sense of ‘I know who I
am and what I want, and I will get it.’”

Colors again will be very important as during the past couple seasons.
Black is back and hitting hard. Black and white graphics and florals will 
do well. Denim will continue to reign for both men and women. And 
traditional fall colors such as eggplant, navy, olive, charcoal, maroon, 
brown and ivory will be seen in varying mixes.

“The biggest difference we are seeing for this season is that customers
want a higher quality yarn with a better feel to it,” says Kendis Helms
of Pickett Hosiery Mills Inc. “For ladies, the Micromodal yarns, which
are really, really soft will be big.”

Pickett is concentrating on novelty yarns for much of its fall line-up
including a Microtwin yarn that gives a heathered look when dyed in
darker colors and Superloft yarn which is a bulky, higher-grade cotton
with a soft hand made into a ribbed crew for both men and women. Space
dyed chenille is being used as well as space dyed rayon in ladies
styles. Another interesting yarn Pickett is using is a nub yarn that,
when dyed a color, the nub remains white.

Heathered yarns also will be big for the season.

Americal says that there will be three key looks for ladies in Fall
2002: along with the “Man’s World” look, there will be the “Victorian
Bohemian” and the “Sporty Chic” looks. The Victorian Bohemian melds
vintage silhouettes and fabric types with multi-cultural inspirations,”
says Beechner. Colors of the Bohemian look will be red, orange and all
ranges of purple, from lilac to eggplant. Sporty Chic mixes influences
of the sport looks for high fashion such as the bowling shoe.

Paul Lavitt Mills will introduce a floral group, its menswear patterns, 
and a lighter weight group comprise of 100 percent nylon or microfiber 
patterns which are dyed to match the patterned body colors. These are 
done in flat knits, floral designs, and geometric patterns.

“These are the perfect alternative to the ever-popular trouser sock,”
says Troup