In a year that has left quite an impression on the history books, 2010 is rapidly drawing to a close. With that, the new decade brings the promise of new fashion, great new sources, and even some new places on the wholesaler radar screen. Although there are far too many different categories of goods to name, the focus is directed towards hats and caps this time around, since the predictions for 2011 are beginning to make themselves known. Winter hats and accessories are still in high demand, but the spring picks for next year have some surprises, as well as some old classics in store.

If the winter weather and snow that’s blasting various parts of the world right now have everyone feeling like they’ve got the shivers, there is a comforting bit of knowledge in thinking about spring fashions for 2011, which will feature hats and caps as one of the hot sellers for fashion accessories of the year.

As warm breezes blow in, the forecast shows that fashion will take a decidedly tropical twist, with oversized hats and wraps being the new must-have piece for fashionistas who have been keeping their eye on what designers are already cooking up in their studios during the colder months.

Marc Jacobs brings some oohs and ahhs with a spring and summer campaign 2011 that reveals his vision of the new year in bold 70′s inspired outfits that dazzle with vivid pinks and orange hues being the color choices of the season for the highly famed designer. Sneak peeks at the new line during New York Fashion Week revealed some hot styles in dazzling materials and fabrics, with hats being an integral part of the ensembles.

Another item to be on the lookout for is the prolific rise of synthetic furs, as the anti-fur campaign comes full circle in the fashion circuits. Even Queen Elizabeth II had to face the music, as activists and PETA supporters were on the scene in London, to harangue and expose her fashion faux pas in front of reporters and other media who were covering an event where she was a speaker.

Both the Queen’s spokespersons and officials with British government have stated that the fur in question was simply a “restyling” of vintage fur that already existed, so no harm came to any animals in recent days to produce the fashions that were under scrutiny.

Whether the “recycled” look for fur is acceptable to those with animal rights in their sights is a question that remains to be answered, but it’s an important point to consider for wholesalers and suppliers who have inventories of hats with fake fur materials.

The sudden desire and demand for fake furs and synthetic products that spare animals from being used to produce apparel is starting to show up a a positive revenue indicator for many of the dealers who can supply stylish and high quality hats and caps with cruelty-free materials. It’s also driven the prices for these faux furs upward, which will come as a welcome surprise to a good number of sellers who have found themselves stuck in the past, with products that couldn’t compete with the genuine article.