Bottomline on post-pandemic retail: There may be a rise in demand of fancy jackets, shirts & pyjamas

WFH-wear norms may see further fall in conventional officewear sales, not rise.

By ET Bureau | May 20, 2020, 08.56 AM IST

Pyjamas might see a fillip rather than a fall, given their multi-functionality in this work-from-home (WFH) era.

It is not often that eminent economists make prognostications that even the general public can immediately understand. So, it is heartening that Kaushik Basu, former chief economist at the World Bank, has offered insight into a matter that touches everyone: clothing. His forecast that as video meetings become the norm in the post-pandemic world, there will be a rise in demand for ‘fancy shirts, jackets and ties’ and the opposite for ‘waist-downwards clothing’ such as trousers, pyjamas and dhotis, should be factored in by the retail sector.

But when even the venerable Supreme Court of India has allowed advocates to appear on video hearings sans jackets and black gowns, the definition of formal work wear looks likely to change forever. Therefore, as the data Dr Basu has drawn on for this analysis is unknown, his optimism about the continuance, let alone rise, of jackets and ties as officewear may turn out to be unfounded. After all, suits and formal neckwear sales had been already falling since pre-pandemic times.

Moreover, contrary to his contention, pyjamas might see a fillip rather than a fall, given their multi-functionality in this work-from-home (WFH) era. Indeed, inasmuch as they are best suited for Indian weather conditions, dhotis, pyjamas and other indigenous sartorial components may find more takers than before.

Viru’s A-Level Humour, Virat’s Style Statement, Women Team’s Big Win Stole The Show At BCCI Awards

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One of the most awaited nights in Indian cricket, the BCCI awards, took place in Mumbai on Sunday. The awards were meant to honour the best in cricket for the year 2018-19 in over 25 categories.

The who’s who of Indian cricket, from captain Virat Kohli, team coach Ravi Shastri to teammates Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma and others were in attendance. Honouring the cricketers with awards were the newly appointed BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguly and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. Here are all the major highlights of the star-studded night.