Also, custom hats simplify ordering and distribution, since most are one-size-fits-all, and with the wide variety available, it won’t be hard to find the right headwear for the occasion. Plus, if a supplier is short on stock, customers can choose from so many options that they might end up with something even better than what they originally had in mind.

Trends come and go, but the need for quality, comfort and style endures. To craft a promotional hat people will want to wear, comfort is a must. Quality also matters, because you want a lid that will last. Aim for fit, function and flair to create a custom hat that will not only be worn but become a favorite.

Decorate To Differentiate

The decorating is almost as important as the cap itself. When it comes to style, get creative with decoration to set a basic trucker cap or beanie apart and make it a stylish choice to be worn again and again.

Gone are the days of slapping a logo on the front of a trucker hat or beanie and calling it a day. With so many decoration options, it can be daunting to choose. Consider a new twist on traditional embroidery, like 3D, reverse 3D or sublimation. Patches, also a tried-and-true favorite, come in a number of different materials and can be permanently affixed to a promo hat or swapped and supplemented on a custom cap with hook-and-loop patches. Printed seam tape is another decorative option for a fun surprise inside.

Clever placement can make all the difference in decorating, because front and center has become just one of many options for branding your promo headwear. The idea is to spark curiosity in the viewer to ask the wearer about what’s on that custom hat.

Whether you opt for something trendy or traditional, make sure it’s thoughtful and detailed for a memorable and high-quality promotional hat that makes a lasting impression.

3 Hot Headwear Styles For 2023

All the hat styles available can lead to analysis paralysis when it comes to choosing a promotional product. Here are three styles sure to put your clients’ brands on top:

1. Truckers Rule

The humble trucker hat – a structured mesh cap with fabric front panels, mesh rear panels and a snap back – remains king, and despite the name, this spin on the classic baseball cap is for everybody. Vogue has reported plenty of sophisticated caps featured in fall runway shows: “From Gucci to Coach to Burberry, the all-American baseball cap was the dominant headgear on the catwalks.”

Again, creativity is key, and the structure of trucker hats provides a great canvas for multiple decoration techniques, including screen printing and embroidery on the mesh back panels in addition to the standard front crown area.

2. Poms: The Bigger, The Better

Fluffy accessories are a trending hat style, according to Vogue, and the bigger the better. Look at the knit beanies and watch caps available and you’ll see poms the size of your fist.

These make great winter giveaways, but beanies and knit caps are increasingly worn as fashion accessories regardless of the weather, and by all genders.

3. Fun (With Protection) In The Sun

Bucket hats are still hugely popular with consumers, although they tend to be a bit pricier than custom caps, due to the materials and time needed for construction. 

Boonies and wide-brimmed straw beach hats (aka lifeguard hats), which provide sun protection during outdoor activities, are also popular. Not only are they great promo giveaways, they’re also perfect for outfitting outdoor workers.

Baseball Caps, Bucket Hats And Beyond

Although the three styles described above are trending now, the baseball-style billed cap and its variations (dad cap, trucker hat, etc.) are still tops – and there are tons of great options for promo headwear. Here are a few to consider: