CLEVELAND, Ohio — Since the pandemic began, the business world went from button-down shirts and slacks at the office to t-shirts and sweatpants at home. Will more comfortable clothes become the new normal, even after the pandemic ends?
“I think people have definitely been more casual than they normally would be,” says William Perrine, Fashion Design & Merchandising senior lecturer at the Kent State School of Fashion.
Athleisure — hybrid clothing with influences stemming from yoga, streetwear, hip hop music and more –was originally meant for athletic activities but has grown in popularity for everyday wear.
Perrine says the pandemic has essentially affected the supply chain for fashion retailers. Many struggled to stay open as consumers made the move to online shopping.
“If we are all on video calls basically, you could have shorts on and then put a nice top on and nobody’s gonna know the difference,” says Perrine.