The men’s industry is experiencing exponential growth, and sales are set to eclipse those of womenswear by 2021, according to a survey by Euromonitor.
FN spoke to fashion directors, buyers and designers across the industry to examine how men’s shopping habits have changed — and what impact that is having on the market at large.
They told us that thanks largely to Instagram, the male shopper is more informed, proactive and adventurous than ever before. He is also increasingly embracing e-commerce and more concerned with sustainability. Here are the three main drivers behind the way men shop now.
1. Social Shopping
“Social media has democratized fashion,” said Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. What he means is that men can scroll through their Instagram feed until their hearts’ content, immediately accessing information they’d once have waited months to see in a magazine.
“This easy availability of visual information and style references has absolutely affected the market and informed the shopper,” he continued. “You make more interesting and adventurous choices if you are more informed.”
Perhaps this has, in turn, encouraged big houses to take more risks. Take, for instance, the men’s spring ’20 presentations: With transparent “naked” boots at Dior Men, gold sandals at Celine (both leather and rubber jelly versions, for the record) and floral wellies at Louis Vuitton, the season’s footwear certainly looked adventurous.
Additionally, Browns senior buyer Thom Scherdel pointed to the growing power of the influencer. “The pool of ‘influence’ Instagram accounts [male shoppers] can source from is now huge, and it’s become totally normal for guys to follow these people — whereas before, it was less of a thing,” he said.
Level Shoes senior buyer Stephanie Moor noted that thanks to social media platforms, men are now much more trend driven and shopping faster and more frequently. “They are looking to peer groups, influencers and celebrities for inspiration and direction on what brands and styles to be seen in,” she said, “especially when it comes to sneakers.”
They are also more proactive, according to Mr Porter senior buyer David Morris. “Customers visit [our] site already equipped with the information they need to make a purchase,” he said. “In some cases, they will reach out to us ahead of key launches to register their interest.”
2. Online Uptick
Of course, men aren’t just drawing inspiration from the digital realm, they’re also shopping there as well in increasing numbers. A January report from First Insight Inc. found that male shoppers made about 41% of their purchases online, up from 38% the previous year.
No surprise, then, that women’s retail platforms Mytheresa and LVMH’s 24S will both launch menswear divisions for spring ’20. Mytheresa has tapped Sneakerboy founder Chris Kyvetos as its new buying director for men’s. And 24S has snagged a deal as the exclusive retailer for Dior Men and Celine.
Ugg menswear designer Enrique Corbi pointed out that guys today are much more willing to trust online shopping. “Men used to have to touch and feel their prospective purchases, myself included,” he said. “Now, they’re happy to order things from Mr Porter and the like, try them at home and either keep them or send them back.”
According to Browns menswear buying manager Dean Cook, the rise of online shopping, for both sexes, is about convenience. “It comes down to the fact that people are becoming more and more busy and have less time to go to stores,” he said.
However, he maintained that there is still a generational split among consumers: “Younger men tend to mostly shop online, whereas an older customer will shop both online and in-store.”
3. Lifestyle & the Environment
Another factor impacting men’s fashion choices is changing lifestyles — particularly a more-casual lifestyle. “The three-piece suit and occasion dressing are dying out,” said Cottweiler co-designer Matthew Dainty, who founded the label with Ben Cottrell in 2012.
Cottweiler, which partnered again with Reebok for its spring ’20 sneakers and apparel, has always fused tailoring with sportswear. For instance, one look from their spring collection — a tailored suit in technical fabric — was a cheeky take on commuter-wear with sports-style vents exposing flashes of skin.
But streetwear isn’t just one aspect of men’s evolving lifestyles. Among other changes, Dainty cited an increasing concern with health and wellbeing, alongside less-traditional working practices and environments. “I read an article recently that dubbed ‘wellness’ the new luxury,” he said.
Ami’s Alexandre Mattiussi picked up on the same holistic approach with his spring collection, which featured tiny tinkling bells decorating garments and shoes. He told FN he chose them because the sound was calming, like meditation.
In a similar vein, an interest in sustainably produced product and transparency within the production chain is becoming as prevalent among men as it is women. While it’s been in Cottweiler’s DNA from its inception, Dainty said he’s noticed that men are becoming more aware and appreciative of their environmental impact and are purchasing accordingly.
And more brands are responding. For spring, Rick Owens collaborated with Veja for his second season, Byredo launched sneakers made with byproduct leather from the label’s bags and Nanushka, which started as a women’s label and is known for its vegan leathers, staged its first coed presentation.
Additionally, Chitose Abe’s Sacai collection featured T-shirts made from a newly developed Brewed Protein Blended sustainable fabric. On one T-shirt, the Fabien Baron graphic reading “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” said it all.
Want More?
The 7 Shoes From Paris Fashion Week Men’s That Will Be Trending for 2020
Why Online Shopping Is More Eco-Friendly Than Traditional Retail — Or at Least It Was
How Brands Should Sell Sustainability to Consumers
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