96% Of Asian Workers Want To Wear Casual Clothing In Workplace

ASIA PACIFIC – A study conducted by fitness apparel manufacturer Lululemon shows that as businesses continue to embrace hybrid work arrangements, over 4 in 5 staff in the region want to be allowed to continue wearing casual clothes like T-shirts and shorts in the office, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Wednesday morning (22 September, SGT).

The majority of the 6,000 respondents said they want to ditch suits as comfort is their top priority when it comes to selecting clothes. And given that more firms are permitting their staff to telecommute, 84 percent said they hope wearing casual clothes becomes more common in the office.

Moreover, the survey discovered that younger staff tend to dress more comfortably. For example, in Taiwan, over 50 percent of Millennial men are not looking forward to dressing professionally again when they return to their office.

“The results of this survey reinforce Lululemon’s belief that wearing clothes that make you feel good is non-negotiable,” said Lululemon’s Chief Product Officer Sun Choe.

“The data provides long overdue recognition that professional work wear can and should be functional, versatile and comfortable. And when it is all three, it can positively affect performance, confidence and more,” she added.

However, the Nasdaq-listed apparel maker said as more employees become more accustomed to remote work and online meetings, where wearing non formal attires are unlikely to cause a faux pa, a full or partial return to offices could potentially mean a return to wearing formal clothes for work.

The findings of Lululemon’s survey underscores how the global health crisis has impacted even clothing preferences of workers across the world.

The research was carried out in August across 11 markets, including Canada, the United States, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and South Korea. Respondents encompassed millennials and Generation Z.