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The Future of Fashion is Menswear

The men’s section of most retailers and brands isn’t nearly the size of the women’s department, sales are booming as people exchange their slim jeans and tailored suits for wide-legged pants as well as loose-fitting tees, casual clothes that are suitable for workplace and social events.

At the London-based luxury retailer MatchesFashion the sales of men’s clothes are up by 40% compared to the same time last year. Men’s footwear is growing by 50 percent, according to director of the menswear department, Damien Paul. Other retailers are noticing the growth potential.

“The growth in men’s fashion is a first,” said Michael Kliger the chief executive officer of German online retailer Mytheresa which introduced its menswear line in the year 2020.

Euromonitor predicts that the market will expand faster than womenswear over next four years, growing by $547.9 billion before 2026 with an annual average growth amount at 5.8 percent, as compared with 5.3 percentage for the women’s wear.

Brands are betting that this is an inevitable shift. The Outnet introduced its menswear collection in March in order to tap into this market’s “huge potential” due to the high demand from existing customers and brand partners as per Emma Mortimer, the company’s managing director. J.Crew will launch its new menswear line in the fall under Noah Designer Brendon Babenzien later in the year.

The luxury players are also investing in the market. Louis Vuitton will open a exclusive men’s boutique at Beverly Hills on July 14. Italian luxury tailoring company Zegna is taking a more sporty and more immersive approach to menswear since the suiting trend fades out of fashion. The change has helped the brand increase revenues by 27 percent, reaching EUR1.29 billion ($1.31 billion) in 2021. Labels such as Burberry, Gucci and Dior have signed new sports stars as ambassadors to capitalize on the growing popularity from new groups of males. For instance, last week 19-year-old footballer Eduardo Camavinga walked the runway in the Balenciaga fashion show by Demna in Paris.

The rise in menswear is triggered predominantly by a refashioning. The trend of casualising menswear been in the making long before the epidemic and the shift to a working from home lifestyle that came into fashion in the year 2020 has established new styles that emphasize the comfort of wearing.

Gender fluidity is a key factor in the revival of this category broadening the reach and appeal of men’s clothes.

Streetwear, in contrast has slowed down. Hoodies, tracksuits , and sneakers are no longer popular items sold at Mytheresa According to Kliger and he says that casual jackets, shirts and loafers increasing sales.

Formal suits, skinny jeans and figure-hugging blouses are also trending and men are now embracing larger-legged cropped trousers as well as cargo pants and large tops — clothes they can wear for all life events, according to Chris Black, a menswear and culture specialist who works for brands such as Thom Browne, New Balance and Stussy through his company, Done to Death Projects.

“Coming from the pandemic, it’s obvious that we’re headed towards the end of streetwearMen are now wearing casual attire or sneakers with hard soles, rather than the sneakers of their past,” Black said.

The New Fashion Cycle New Fashion Cycle

Tejumola Butler Adenuga 27, a London-based artist is a frequent shopper throughout the spring and summer months in an effort to update his wardrobe. In the last few months, he’s bought an open-neck linen t-shirt from Maison Margiela and the pair of Bottega Veneta boots and a Prada shoulder bag made of nylon, in addition to other things.

“For me when I shop these times, I am looking for comfort and the age of tight-fitting clothing is no longer for males,” Adenuga said. Because of the pandemic Adenuga said, “I’m willing to pay more for clothes that fit well and feel more comfortable.” Then, in May of this year, he bought loose, loose-hemmed trousers by Bottega Veneta, taking advantage of the brand’s alteration service to find the perfect size.

To accommodate men such as Adenuga who are currently searching for custom-made product modifications the UK-based luxury retailer chain Flannels has made a change to provide a more personalized menswear experience for shoppers, said David Epstein, managing director of the parent Frasers Group. Frasers Group. The retailer’s recently opened flagship location in Liverpool customers can have their clothes tailored to fit in a tailoring center in the menswear area and have the opportunity to choose fabrics or styles from more than 10 brands.

In the meantime, brands such as Zegna have reduced their staple suiting items with ties and ties, advertising casual pieces such as knitwear and sports coats. Luxury cult brands such as Aime Leon Dore have captured the modern-day zeitgeist in menswear, leveraging trends such as “blokecore” -an online subculture that celebrates the look of men in their mid-life, such as long-legged jeans, quilted sweaters Polo shirts, and bucket caps. The hashtag “blokecore” has over 27 million followers on TikTok.

Hot Growth Categories

Accessories have also been an area of growth in menswear over the past year, according to retailers. At Mytheresa Leather accessories as well as popular items such as Prada’s nylon crossbody bags are driving sales in this segment, Kliger said.

Flannels are also witnessed an increase in demand for sunglasses and bags. Sales of accessories for men are up 35 percent over the last year, according to the managing director Epstein. Additionally Mr. Porter has increased its selection of fine jewellery brands during the last year due to an increase in demand, according to the company in addition, Matches Fashion also noted a increase in the amount of money spent on watches and fine jewelry this year too.

What’s happening in the world of menswear is a reflection of the changes womenswear is experiencing as per Karla Martin, the managing director for Deloitte. The lower barriers to entry as well as the growth of social media has created the opportunity for new brands to come up, “giving choices for men across all categories,” she said.

Menswear Access in New Ways

The way men are influenced by fashion has changed According to Black.

“Before it was about getting information about brands or clothes from your partner or girlfriend,” he said, noting that it’s now popular in recent years “for men to invest time and money on clothes and then discuss it with their friends.”

New channels in the world of culture are introducing menswear to people at first. Podcasts such as the one called Throwing Fits, Instagram accounts such as NCL Gallery, Hidden and JJJJound, along with subreddits as well as Discord channels have played a key role in allowing menswear to be seen by new viewers.

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