RETAILERS GET SERIOUS ABOUT CASUAL WEAR AS IT TAKES CENTRESTAGE IN GLOBAL FASHION

In the last year, consumer inclination towards casual wear has increased manifolds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world became restricted to their homes, fashion senses started gravitating towards comfortable and presentable clothes that can easily transition from work from home to grocery-runs and social-media appearances.

The fashion industry has probably not witnessed a force more unrestrained than causal wear in the past. In the last decade, casualization has swept through global fashion sensibilities with unflinching determination and today, it has entrenched its stronghold as a wardrobe staple throughout the world. Reports suggest that more than one-third of the global population has embraced casual wear in the few years and the trend exhibits no signs of waning.

In fact, in the last year, consumer inclination towards casual wear has increased manifolds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world became restricted to their homes, fashion senses started gravitating towards comfortable and presentable clothes that can easily transition from work from home to grocery-runs and social-media appearances. Thus, demand for casual wear skyrocketed globally after the lockdown.

“It has been a year since the lockdown triggered new trends in fashion with people finding new ways of adjusting to the new normal. Over the last six weeks, we have seen a shift from loungewear to casual and smart wear. Initially, we saw an upsurge in fashion essentials, as consumers were prioritizing comfort and investing in apparel that were stylishly comfortable and allowed them to slounge. At Westside, during and post the lockdown, we saw an amazing response on our range of fashion essentials that comprised of updated basics in mood refreshing colours and patterns of the seasons. We focused on creating looks that were both comfortable and presentable - all at an unexpected value,” says Umashan Naidoo, HeadCustomer & Beauty, Westside.