For the Business of Apparel Decorating
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/670957
2 0 1 6 M A Y P R I N T W E A R || 61 Although manufacturers acknowledge that re- tail trends are very important to their businesses, whatever trend they pick up needs to have sus- tainability, add value to their overall collections, and have the ability to be adapted for their cus- tomers and the intended end use. Let's explore the trends that are shaping the women's wear market and how manufacturers are successfully customiz- ing their collections to meet these demands. ATHLEISURE ON THE RISE Athleisure, clothing that was designed original- ly for working out but is now worn outside of the gym for other social occasions, has definitely reached a global fever pitch. Seemingly every re- tailer has started to add stylized yoga pants and sneakers to their collections. As Business Insider reports, the athleisure trend is reforming the en- tire apparel industry and has become a dominant growth area. By adapting traditional characteris- tics of sportswear for haute couture, this indicates that there is a significant change in how people view athletic wear in general. Designers are re- placing high heels with trainers on the runway, while style magazines and websites constantly showcase celebrities like Rihanna, Drake, and Kendall Jenner going about their daily routines in leggings and hoodies. And, even if you don't always agree with Kanye West's comments, his "Sweatshirts are the way of the future" statement resonates quite well with this incredible industry shift. High fashion has embraced this trend on many levels, and it's increasingly becoming more prominent for the masses. Although the athletic wear trend is especially popular among millennials and teenagers, it's also impacting what women want with their apparel selections. There is a substantial shift of women moving toward more casual, comfortable wear. Why, you ask? Let's think about wardrobes in general for a moment. If you think about how in the last 10–15 years the dress code in the work- place has evolved to become more casual, this surely makes sense. Other than law offices and similar professional, customer-facing jobs, dark jeans and leggings have become acceptable pieces of work clothing. As everyday wardrobes have become more casual, so has workwear. (Image courtesy LA T Apparel)