Performance features the fabric of men’s work wear
Men are becoming increasingly more interested in buying garments with ease-of-care and performance finishes when it comes to buying their clothes for work, according to research from Cotton Inc. According to Cotton Inc.’s Lifestyle Monitor, more than half (51%) of men surveyed said that they would seek out wrinkle resistance and just under a half (49%) said they would seek out stain resistance for what they wear to work.
Wrinkle resistance remains the most popular finish among all consumers. According to The NPD FashionWorld’s AccuPanel, it garnered 56% of the performance apparel market, followed by stain resistance (22%), moisture wicking (12%) and stretch (4%), with all others (6%) bringing up the balance.
What men want| PERFORMANCE FEATURE | %OF MEN WHO SEEK FEATURE |
| Wrinkle resistance | 51% |
| Stain resistance | 49 |
| Wind resistance | 23 |
| Water repellance | 33 |
The AccuPanel also shows that these wrinkle-free garments are gaining traction in the marketplace. According to this data, wrinkle-free garments accounted for 15% of the total apparel market in 2006, up from 13% in 2005 and just 11% in 2004.
Retailers are certainly picking up on men’s interest in performance apparel. JCPenney sells wrinkle-free dress shirts in its Stafford, Dockers, Haggar and Concepts by Claiborne brands, as well as a washable suit by Bagir. Macy’s sells more than 24 wrinklefree items from its brands including its private label Alfani as well as national labels like Liz Claiborne. Kohl’s has a pair of wrinkle-free denim pleated pants in its offerings, for $45.