FROM FORMAL TO FLUID CHARTING A DECADE OF MENSWEAR GROWTH IN INDIA

The Indian menswear market growth is underpinned by a combination of demographic scale, evolving lifestyle preferences, and the seamless convergence of offline and online retail experiences.

- Madhulika Tiwari, Partner & Parmesh Chopra, Head Content Writer, The Knowledge Company

The Indian menswear market represents the largest and most established segment within the country's apparel industry, contributing close to 40% of total apparel consumption by value.

Once defined by formal shirts, trousers, and value-driven dressing, the segment has evolved into a multifaceted ecosystem that now embraces casualwear, activewear, ethnicwear, and digitally native fashion. This transformation, accelerated by the pandemic, reflects broader socioeconomic and behavioural shifts in how Indian men perceive, purchase, and wear clothing.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic served as a structural reset. As offices, events, and travel came to a standstill, men's wardrobes evolved from being occasion-centric to comfort-oriented and versatile. The dominance of formalwear gave way to hybrid categories such as chinos, polos, and denims, while work-from-home culture made loungewear and activewear essential. Even after normalcy returned, these habits persisted, creating a durable preference for functionality, fit, and ease of movement over conventional formality.

India's demographic profile reinforces this long-term opportunity. With over 360 million men between the ages of 15 and 44, India's male population forms one of the world's largest active fashion-consuming cohorts. This generation is not only digitally connected but also culturally expressive and brand-aware, treating fashion as an extension of individuality and lifestyle. Rapid urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and expanding access to digital retail have made style more inclusive - bridging the gap between aspiration and affordability.