NEW YORK — Spring isn’t legwear’s most profitable season — and summer is even worse.
After all, most customers have no use for tights and socks in sandal weather. The industry, however, is gaining some momentum in the warmer months.
Many companies are widening their offerings to include categories such as hair accessories or footwear, while other firms are focusing on early deliveries of hosiery and socks in winter fabrics and spring colors in late December and January.
Hot Sox is aiming to ship the first spring delivery in December.
“It’s been going on for awhile,” Susan Spindell, national sales manager of Hot Sox, said of the legwear industry’s down months of spring and summer. “In spring, we ship on the early side. By shipping some spring groups in December, we have the spring colors to catch [the consumer’s] eye and it’s just about the time the Christmas novelty items are sold out.”
The company continues to push its Comfort collection in new bright colors and prints, and is incorporating beaded details.
Givenchy, which is licensed by JBT, is going for early deliveries, as well.
“Because the apparel industry is so off-based [for instance, selling fall in July or spring in January], when we ship, we could get away with [shipping spring goods early],” said Maria Giraldi, creative director for Givenchy hosiery at JBT.
Givenchy’s color palette comprises muted pinks and neutrals. Giraldi also will show prints of colorful geometric florals and herringbones, as well as finely knit paisley textures.
“Everything is crossing seasons,” Giraldi said. “You’re getting flowers in the winter and herringbone in the summer.”
Look From London, which produces hosiery for Anna Sui and Dior, is riding the legging trend. It is offering footless tights in a myriad of patterns and colors with matching stretch headbands.
“We are just tapping the surface,” said Tony Taylor, creative director of the company. “A lot of people are still interested in the Eighties look.”
Hue is going past hosiery, as well. Along with the company’s decorated slipper socks called “Shues,” to which it has added crocheted details in bright colors, it has launched a line of beaded ankle bracelets and flip-flops, including a Marimekko-inspired print canvas thong on an espadrille wedge.
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Luxury still reigns at Wolford. The company is interpreting its signature crochet tights for fall in a lighter weave for spring in shades of dusty pink, dove gray and linen.
American Essentials, the licensee for Calvin Klein and Michael Kors socks, is launching Michael Kors athletic socks for spring. The four styles include classic Kors colors and silhouettes, with a bit of whimsy like a pom-pom on an ankle sock.
The company also is livening up athletic socks in shades of geranium, turmeric and grass.
“We took a special focus on activewear color,” said Michele Slade, vice president of sales and marketing for American Essentials.
Leg Resource Inc., which produces legwear for Anne Klein and Via Spiga, among others, is about details with zigzags, curlicue motifs and sewn-on lace.
“Spring is a more challenging season,” said Wayne Lederman, president of Leg Resource. “The first quarter represents 60 percent of the spring business, and in the second quarter, business decreases dramatically. Legwear is trending up, however, for spring.”
Sara Lee, which produces Donna Karan, DKNY and Hanes hosiery, has a few introductions for spring.
The new Transparent line of sheer hosiery from Hanes comes in five flesh tones that are transparent enough to enable consumers to match their skin tones with greater ease. Taking its influence from trends in the beauty industry, which is exploding with products meant to give a tanned, glowing effect to the legs, Hanes also will debut Sheer Radiance, a line of sheers that gives a slightly tanned and shimmering look to the leg.
“Spring is not our strongest season in the legwear category, but it could be very good,” said Nadine Hall, vice president and general manager of hosiery at Sara Lee. “With the return to femininity and dressing up, women want to wear hosiery.”