Companies that manufacture workwear clothing and accessories have seen a large upturn in demand for their products in 2020. What does this mean for the future hold for work clothes? What is the industry likely to see in 2021 and are there any longer-term trends?

Fashion and Workwear

As well as the demand for high-quality workwear being driven by changing economic trends in light of the global emergency, there is something else at play. Workwear is becoming increasingly regarded as a trendy way to dress. Denim jeans were regarded as working men's trousers for years before they became fashion items for both men and women. Will other forms of industrial clothing follow suit in the post-COVID era? Only time will tell, but the market indicators suggest it will. After all, so-called utility chic is one of the big things in office fashion right now, so workwear that is practical and keeps people safe but still looks good is highly likely to be the sort of thing that will sell well in 2021.

Clothing Designed For Online Sales

Another important factor in workwear design for the coming seasons will be to produce items of clothing that look good in an online sales environment. Few retail industry analysts think that high street clothing sales are going to make a wholesale recovery any time soon. Therefore, practical workwear — including tunics, uniforms, steel toe-capped boots and riggers gloves, among other items — will all have to be the sort of garments that photograph well to sell. This means that they'll need to look appealing as well as have their practical features highlighted. Physical interaction with all types of clothing has traditionally been a big part of how they've been marketed, from catwalk displays to trying them on in stores. Marketers of workwear will have to adapt to changing consumer habits as the global pandemic rumbles on — and probably for a period after it — to maintain the aforementioned market growth of 2020.

More Forgiving Fits

Finally, it is worth mentioning that some people with physical jobs have not been exercising as much as they usually would in their working lives during the lockdowns that have been imposed all around the world. Manufacturers of workwear will need to respond to this accordingly. Although sizes won't need to be altered to meet consumer demand for workwear in 2021, more relaxed fits are likely to be a wise move. In other words, produce fewer super skinny garments and more regular fit ones for continued future commercial success.

Look online to see what workwear is available now. 

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