Colored retroreflective articles

An article of clothing comprising:

• a fabric with a first major surface and a second major surface;
• and
• a retroreflective appliqué attached to the first major surface of the fabric, the retroreflective appliqué comprising:
• a layer of optical elements, embedded in a bead bond layer, the optical elements comprising:
• transparent microspheres;
• at least one polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer;
• and
• at least one reflective layer covering at least a portion of the polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer, wherein the polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer comprises a multi-layer coating, wherein at least one of the layers of the multi-layer coating comprises a polymeric layer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof, wherein the polymeric layer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof is located between the surface of the transparent microsphere and a polymeric layer colored with at least one nanopigment, and wherein the transparent microspheres have a diameter range of 80-120 micrometers, with at least 75% of the transparent microspheres having a diameter range of 85-105 micrometers, and a refractive index in the range of 1.50-2.00.

A method of preparing a retroreflective article comprising:

• providing a polymeric carrier layer with a first major surface and a second major surface;
• providing transparent microspheres, wherein the transparent microspheres have a diameter range of 80-120 micrometers, with at least 75% of the transparent microspheres having a diameter range of 85-105 micrometers, and a refractive index in the range of 1.50-2.00;
• partially embedding the transparent microspheres into the first major surface of the polymeric carrier layer such that the beads at least partially protrude from the first major surface of the polymeric carrier layer to form a layer of microspheres;
• depositing a first polymeric layer on at least a portion of the first major surface of the polymeric carrier layer and the layer of microspheres, wherein the first polymeric layer comprises a multi-layer coating, wherein at least one of the layers of the multi-layer coating comprises a polymeric layer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof, wherein the polymeric layer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof is located between the surface of the transparent microsphere and a polymeric layer colored with at least one nanopigment;
• depositing a reflective layer on at least a portion of the first polymeric layer;
• applying a bead bond layer to the layer of microspheres;
• and
• removing the polymeric carrier layer.