Simple & sustainable

Gurnaaz Kaur

Despite the pandemic, life is limping back to a ‘new normal’. The fashion industry too has absorbed the shock and braced itself for the required alterations. In men’s fashion, things look easy-breezy… Here are some trends that will help you update your wardrobe.

Learning curve

Closely associated with the Punjabi film and music industry, Chandigarh-based designer Shruti Jamaal thinks this year has given many a lesson to the fashion industry. “One of the lessons is to ‘redo’ our plans.”

As more and more people are working from home, Shruti adds, “The biggest trend for 2020 is ‘ease’. It’s always said that comfort is fashion, but this year it is more applicable than ever before. Smart t-shirts, coordinated sets and tracksuits are among the most sought-after trends now.” According to her, oversized Oxford shirts will continue to be in vogue, “Printed shirts are being really accepted well, especially in Punjab. Oversized shirts are also taking over, making clothes gender-neutral.”

Go for layers

Designer Gautam Gupta says gender neutrality is changing the dynamics of fashion, “We are seeing more layers, ruffles and drapes being incorporated in kurtas, shirts and even jackets. Print-on-print, oversized clothes, asymmetrical silhouettes; all are being worn by metrosexual men. Millennials today are redefining fashion and taking bolder steps, wearing purple, pink, and red with ease. Then there are bold prints, shimmer shirts and funky accessories.”

Says designer Rachit Khanna, “People have actually realised that life is good with simple and sustainable things. On the other side of the spectrum are those who think that life is just ‘now’, so they want the best in everything. These thoughts are being reflected in men’s fashion too. Men are opting for lighter fabrics, like cottons and linens with fresh pastels, like peaches, pinks and even mint greens.”

Adds Ludhiana-based designer Punit Arora, “We are coming up with a wedding collection that is more ‘value for money’ and will stay as assets in one’s wardrobe rather than being an ensemble that goes out of trend.”

For the grooms

The grooms during this time can consider Lucknowi embroidery, something which Rachit Khanna has introduced in his new collection. “It is all about light fabric kurtas with embroidered waistcoats. I have used fabrics like cotton silk and raw silk for more formal occasions.”

If you loves formal-wear, Rachit has given a different look to tuxedos and suits, “I have embroidered them with tone-on-tone material; not going overboard, but extravagant at the same time.”

Neat cuts

There are a lot of things to play with, as Gautam says, “New motifs, from geometrical to floral, blended textiles in tussar silk to cotton silk to munga georgette; colours like powder pink, sea green, brown, along with contemporary silhouettes, are making festive-wear edgier for men.”

Says Shruti, “People are opting for bell-bottoms, tapered hem, straight fit, boot-cut, skinny fits, kimono fits and more.”