Fashion Terms — the Apparel Search fashion terminology directory
Promotional merchandise is used globally to promote brands, products and corporate identity: articles of merchandise, often branded with a logo or slogan, given away to promote a company, corporate image, brand or event at trade shows and conferences and as part of guerrilla marketing campaigns. Promotional apparel is the clothing branch of that merchandise — typically printed or embroidered with a company name, brand or logo, with other embellishment also used to identify the corporate image.
Promotional merchandise is used globally to promote brands, products, and corporate identity.
Promotional merchandise, promotional items, promotional products, promotional gifts, or advertising gifts, sometimes nicknamed swag or schwag, are articles of merchandise (often branded with a logo or slogan) used in marketing and communication programs. They are given away to promote a company, corporate image, brand, or event at trade shows, conferences, and as part of guerrilla marketing campaigns.
Promotional apparel is typically printed or embroidered with a company name, brand, or logo. Other types of embellishment can also be utilized to identify the corporate image.
Learn about imagewear which is similar concept.
The following are a few resources of possible interest:
Design custom apparel for your company or brand, creating an ever-lasting impression on your customers and clients. Achieve brand recognition with custom embroidered shirts, imprinted logo clothing & more. Nothing supports a brand as well as personalized clothing.
Learn about corporate apparel here in our fashion industry terms section.
What is promotional apparel? That is a fantastic question.
Apparel is prized as a promotional medium because it keeps working after the event ends. A flyer is discarded; a well-made shirt with a clean logo is worn for years, carrying the brand into every room the wearer enters. That longevity is the argument for quality in promotional orders: the garment creates an impression of the company every time it is seen, so print and embroidery quality, fabric and fit all reflect on the brand being promoted.
Effective promotional apparel starts from brand recognition: a logo or name placed to be read at a glance, colors that match the corporate identity, and decoration suited to the garment — embroidery for a durable, premium mark on shirts and caps, printing for larger or more colorful designs. Companies design custom apparel for staff, customers and event audiences with the same goal stated for every promotional product: an ever-lasting impression on customers and clients, achieved by turning ordinary clothing into identified, branded clothing.
Promotional merchandise, promotional items, promotional products, promotional gifts or advertising gifts — sometimes nicknamed swag or schwag.
Most commonly by printing or embroidery: custom apparel printing and print shops handle printed designs, while custom embroidery and embroidery design services produce stitched logos. Personalized clothing such as custom embroidered shirts and imprinted logo clothing is used to build brand recognition with customers and clients.
Imagewear is a similar concept covered in its own term entry, and corporate apparel is the related category in the fashion industry terms section. Promotional apparel is specifically the giveaway and marketing garment — worn to carry a brand into public view — rather than a uniform issued for work.