#United States #Los Angeles #Hermes Creative Awards #Next Level Apparel #Trade Show Design

Next Level Apparel Achieves Gold at the 2026 Hermes Creative Awards

Next Level Apparel, widely recognized for its premium and ethically sourced blank apparel, has achieved a remarkable honor winning the Gold Award at the 2026 Hermes Creative Awards for its trade show exhibit design. This recognition highlights the company's creative and innovative approach to elevating the trade show experience, initially showcased earlier this year.

The award-winning design centers around a fully immersive experience tailored to wholesale buyers, decorators, and industry professionals. Developed in conjunction with DisplayIt, the booth features a spacious 40x40 island concept that promotes buyer interaction. Unlike traditional setups, this open, barrier-free design encourages attendees to engage directly with the apparel—whether it's comparing different fabrics, exploring a variety of color stories, or navigating the exhibit seamlessly.

Sustainability is a key component of the booth's design, incorporating reusable and interchangeable elements to minimize environmental impact while allowing adaptability at different events. Furthermore, the booth features a dedicated sustainability display that emphasizes third-party certifications and transparency within the supply chain. Notably, by organizing collections based on fabric types and emphasizing tactile engagement, Next Level Apparel ensures an enriched customer experience that reflects the brand's commitment to quality, ethical production, and thoughtful design.

Etienne Houseknecht, the Head of Marketing for Next Level Apparel, stated, "Receiving recognition from the Hermes Creative Awards is a significant honor for our team and reflects the philosophy behind this initiative. From the outset, our goal was to revolutionize the conventional trade show format by prioritizing products at the forefront. We’ve designed the booth to mimic a retail environment—open, intuitive, and highly tactile—allowing buyers to physically interact with garments, assess fabrics side by side, and appreciate qualities such as fit and color in a more organic manner. Every detail, from the modular structure to the sustainability-focused components and the transparent certification narrative, was purposefully chosen to represent a more conscientious, product-centric approach to experiencing apparel."

The Hermes Creative Awards, overseen by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), honor exceptional creative work across various marketing and communication domains. This year’s competition attracted over 6,000 entries from 29 countries, showcasing the diversity and talent within the industry.

With more than 200 award categories, the AMCP reviews each entry to identify those that exemplify excellence and set new standards within the industry. They also support pro bono creative efforts for nonprofit organizations, contributing over $350,000 to such initiatives in recent years.

The success of Next Level Apparel at the Hermes Creative Awards is not just a testament to its innovative booth design but also to the company’s overarching mission to provide superior products ethically and sustainably. As a family-founded pioneer in blank apparel, Next Level Apparel remains committed to delivering high-quality garments that meet the diverse needs of its customers while maintaining rigorous ethical standards, verified by distinguished programs like the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and Fair Labor Association.

In conclusion, Next Level Apparel's Gold Award win at the 2026 Hermes Creative Awards signifies a significant advancement in the way trade shows are experienced, setting new benchmarks for how brands can engage deeply and meaningfully with their customers. The clear focus on sustainability and the customer-centric design not only enhances the trade show experience but also aligns with the growing consumer demand for transparency and ethical practices in the fashion industry.

For more information on the Hermes Creative Awards and a full list of winners, visit www.hermesawards.com.