2 hrs ago
Indian Men Bring Prints and Craft Into Workwear
Men’s office clothes in India are becoming less formal and more varied.
Many men now wear shirts with small prints, interesting textures or traditional Indian designs.
These details can make an outfit distinctive without looking too loud.
Some brands are using craft styles such as Ajrakh and Batik.
Relaxed office rules and working from home have helped change what people wear.
Men also want clothes that feel comfortable throughout the day.
They may wear the same outfit to a meeting and then to dinner or while travelling.
Shirts continue to be an important part of men’s clothing.
Relaxed office dress codes and hybrid work are bringing colour, prints, texture and Indian craft into men’s workwear.
Micro-prints, fine stripes and small geometric patterns are popular because they add detail without appearing too bold.
Designers and brands are incorporating motifs and techniques including Ajrakh, Batik, botanical prints and subtle embroidery.
Shirts remain central to the shift; IMARC estimates that shirts and T-shirts make up 34% of India’s menswear market.
Consumers are seeking versatile, comfortable clothes that can work for meetings, travel, dinner and other occasions.
- Who
- Men’s clothing brands, designers and consumers in India.
- What
- A shift toward printed, textured and craft-inspired shirts and more versatile men’s workwear.
- Where
- India, including workplaces and fashion retail.
- When
- The article describes a current trend and notes that men are more open to prints than they were a few years ago.
- Why
- Relaxed workplace dress codes and hybrid working have encouraged more comfortable, versatile clothing.
Key facts
- Market estimate
- IMARC estimates that shirts and T-shirts account for 34% of India’s menswear market.
- Shirt campaign
- Galeries Lafayette Mumbai introduced “Shirt Stories,” an edit featuring 4,000 shirts from more than 50 global fashion houses.
- Campaign themes
- “Shirt Stories” groups its shirts under Work, Play and Indulge.
- Popular patterns
- Micro-geometries, fine stripes, small repeats, florals and botanical motifs are among the styles discussed.
- Craft techniques
- The article highlights Ajrakh, Batik, block prints and subtle embroidery.
- Versatile clothing
- Consumers are seeking clothes that can move between professional and personal settings.
- Examples of easy-care clothing
- Uniqlo’s Super Non-Iron Shirt and AIRism Cotton Pique Polo are cited as popular options.
Quotes
Rashi Sethia
CEO of lifestyle brand Nicobar
“Micro-prints are our biggest bucket right now: small florals, geometrics, and patterns that read almost like solids until you’re up close. They allow men to wear print to work without it feeling loud. At the same time, botanical and prints with large florals, palms and abstract washes have moved into evening and travel wear, particularly among the 25-35 bracket.”
financialexpress.com
“Men are far more open to prints at work than they were even a few years ago. What we see working best are quieter prints: micro-geometries, fine stripes and small repeats that read almost solid from a distance but reveal detail up close. The idea is ‘personality without noise’.”
financialexpress.com
Uniqlo spokesperson
Spokesperson for clothing retailer Uniqlo
“Rather than purchasing for a single occasion, consumers are gravitating towards versatile wardrobe essentials that can transition between professional and personal settings.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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