Fashion has fleece flying this; open bottoms and fancy neck treatments spur growth

The fall 1996 men's fleecewear business is booming with the introduction of open-bottom sweatshirts with fancy neckline designs. Fleecewear businesses such as Champion Products and Russel Athletic are showing strong sales in styles with full-zip, quarter-zip or henley collars. Tultex Corp.'s Discus men's wear brand is also showing strong sales. Novelty styles and fashion are the trend setters for men's fleecewear this fall, according to a clothing executives.
NEW YORK - Fashion and novelty styles are driving the men's fleecewear business this fall and giving a boost to the entire category, according to executives at fleece apparel companies. [...]