From Ties To T-Shirts Re-imagining Business Casuals

The Gen-Z workforce is breaking the traditional workplace dress code, one hoodie at a time

- Niraj Kakade

There's a silent war raging in the offices of corporate India. On one end we have millennials, older millennials and whatever is left of boomers, each equally pressed about the changing work culture, as their clothes. On the other hand, we have Gen-Z, who have traded in shirts and ties for extra, extra oversized clothes and pants baggy enough to pitch an impromptu tent.

But why has the culture of clean-cut, clean-shaved, well-groomed office aesthetics taken the shape of something resembling a crowd that waits for Happy Hours at the bars? "The pandemic has intensified the trend of casualising fashion, particularly with the rise of remote work. The relaxed work environment has led to increased leniency in dress codes, resulting in a lack of clear guidelines. This has caused a variety of inappropriate attire choices in the office space. While embracing a casual Friday style is acceptable, wearing an oversized printed T-shirt to work, in my opinion, is entirely inappropriate," says designer Ashish Soni, who for the last 25 years has championed sleek tailoring that's cut to perfection.

Countering this argument is the athleisure brand XYXX-whose offerings were donned by Orry, the mascot of Gen Z culture. "Lifestyle clothing is the future, with Gen Z viewing fashion as an extension of their personality. The surge in 'oversized and shapeless' garments reflects the younger generation's shift toward a 'woke' fashion era, rejecting brands with gender-specific clothing.

Baggy fits are gender-fluid, providing a versatile escape and pairing well with flares, low waistbands, and wide legs," says Harshal Panchal, Product Designer at XYXX.