Hats Off to the Latest Design Crazes
Safety Feature or Conversation Topic?
We’ll focus on new looks in headwear in part 2 of our review on the ISS 2009 decorated apparel show. The craziest cap we saw at the show was the Panther Vision Lighted Cap, which has built in lights in the bill and will run $25 to $30 decorated. Although it seems like a fun gimmick, it’s actually a useful item or gift for night time workers, hunters, or runners. The built in LED lights are surprisingly bright.
- Distressed styles are in demand
Distressed caps of all sorts are available, including those with broken bills, worn spots, rough cut appliqués, and oddly located grommets. I can’t help but think the factory workers who produce these must shake their heads in disbelief as they’re asked to deliberately produce shoddy goods. And what does the Quality Assurance department do? Reject caps that look too nice?
Camouflage patterns are prominent this year, with some bright new styles such as the Port Authority Mothwing Game Day cap with its loud print and bright backgrounds, including blue (shown here), maroon, and red, in addition to a more conservative black. It may just be us, but it seems like the original intent of camouflage was to make one less noticeable. These new designs do anything but that. If you can’t decide whether to hide or call attention to yourself, there’s a new combination conservative cap with a camouflage bill that’s perfect for the undecided!
What’s your opinion? Are caps meant to draw attention to you, or to hide you – from view or from the elements?