Article.1
Article. 1 is a fashion-forward blank T-shirt line developed to offer designers, manufacturers and apparel brands highquality blank knit apparel at a competitive price point. Designer Gianna Giannulli said the whole idea behind the line is to offer something that has “good quality as well as hip styling.” She added that “that is what really sets us apart.”
Parent company Sofi Classic launches the line at the Action Sports Retailer Trade Expo in San Diego Jan. 14–16.
Sofi Classic is a vertical manufacturer that specializes in yarns and fabrics as well as customizing full-package product nationally and internationally. According to Eddy Chavez, president of Article.1 and director of the company’s product and strategic planning, a lot of people need to chase business with quick turnarounds. “There is great opportunity for the blank Tshirt business,” he said.
Chavez added that the company wants to be a manufacturer and designer resource. By offering no minimums, it creates the opportunity to work with smaller companies who can’t meet large manufacturers’ minimums.
In designing Article.1, Chavez and his staff started from the beginning using U.S. cotton to create eight new custom fabrics from the more than 250 different articles in the company’s knit library. According to Giannulli, they spent a lot of time fitting each shirt and developing the appropriate fabric for each style.
They started with the yarns and went backward and forward with the process until the right fit was achieved. The fabrics are light, soft and versatile and include such special finishings as the “Luxe” finish, which makes for an incredibly soft hand. All fabrics are made of combed ring-spun cotton including a 1x1 baby rib, 2x1 rib, waffle rib thermal, fine jersey, ultra- fine jersey with the Luxe finish, sheer jersey, stretch jersey with spandex and 50/50 jersey with polyester.
Styles include several varieties of short-sleeve tees, longsleeve tees, tanks and “unders” garments for women; shortsleeve tees, long-sleeve tees and a beater tank for men; and a unisex thermal. Style variations include ringers, cap sleeves, raglan sleeves, raglan boat necks, spaghetti straps, racer backs and strapless necklines. The hip styling of the line can be seen in pieces such as the women’s long-sleeve raglan boat neck in sheer jersey and the Euro-fit tee for men, which is tailored to the body and made in ultra-fine jersey with the Luxe finish.
The bodies are interchangeable and some are available in longer lengths, suitable for layering. Wholesale prices are $3 to $6.50 for tops and $2 to $3.50 for undergarments.
Many of the bodies are available in 17 different colors including pastels such as light blue, yellow and lavender; brights such as fuchsia, turquoise and green; darker, earthy shades such as crimson, dark red, eggplant, olive, navy, brown and charcoal; and neutral black and white. For more information, call (714) 428-1111 or visit www.article1.net.
—N. Jayne Seward
