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bright colors for number shadowing. While some teams are opting for retro style, many designers are using flashes of loud colors in areas like number and name shadows. The combination of minimalist style with these small elements of bright color really make uniform decorations pop. Gone are the days of Home and Away uni- forms. Now most collegiate and professional teams have a minimum of three uniforms from which to choose for any given game. Some teams, like the Oregon Ducks football team, seem to have a new uniform for every game. These alternates vary from gray or black- dominant uniforms to uniforms deviating completely from traditional team colors. All NBA teams now have a "City" alternate, which features a design inspired by the team's city history and culture. For instance, the Philadelphia 76ers' City Uniform is inspired by the "Rocky" movies. It uses the same gray color of Rocky's sweatsuit as the base color for the uniforms. The reasons for the increase in alternate uniforms are tied directly with the rise of sports jerseys becoming a popular fashion item. Not only are teams bring- ing fashion to the game, they're using those looks to sell more jerseys. Manufacturers are also making separate designs and fits to appeal to women. By making garments fit women's bodies better, manufactur- ers are selling to often overlooked sports fans. This is opening a whole new market because now women can support their team and feel confident and comfortable in their look. For specific sports, basketball and football jerseys have been popular items for fans for some time. Ever since celebrities and musi- cians started repping their favorite players and teams, the trend has caught on. The surge in popularity in soccer in the United States has resulted in a rise of soccer jersey as trendy street wear. Along with soccer jerseys, baggy hockey jerseys are trending in street wear. Stay on Top of Trends Keep your head in the team game by paying attention to sports uniform trends. As fabric technology changes to fit players' needs, the way you decorate will change as well. Moisture wicking, compression fits and breath- able materials present their own challenges when decorating. Meet your customer's needs by knowing how to decorate these new uniforms styles. From modernized retro looks to full-blast sublimated color, sports uniforms are becoming as much about fashion as they are function. Teams are looking to capitalize on the rise in popularity of performance wear, spirit wear, and sports jerseys as fashionable clothing. Position your company to take advantage of these trends and you'll come out with a win. About the author: Andrew DeHaan is a content writer for GroupeSTAHL, Sterling Heights, MI. 36 Team Insight ~ July/August 2019 teaminsightmag.com APPAREL DECORATING Left-chest logos are still popular with many soccer teams. The latest heat print technology allows for emblems to have a three-dimensional look. They feature a raised texture that adds dimension and is more eye catching. A recent look trending in numbers is to add a bright shadow to a name or number. While minimalist in nature, the flash of color really makes the graphic pop. In professional and collegiate markets, the trend has circled back to retro with a modern touch such as bright highlights and reflective materials in all team uniforms, especially baseball. Younger sports teams are attracted to the bright colors and oversized images possible using dye sublimation heat-applied technology. Often a team or player's name and number are part of the heat-applied design.