COVID-19 has brought many innovations to our lives, rightfrom online parties to digital fitness sessions and work from home (WFH)clothing and more.

When it comes to clothing, earlier there were morefeatures to be evaluated like aesthetics, styling, fit, etc. But owing to thisunique and novel situation, comfort has become a dominant factor in ourquarantine life. Especially if you are going to be picking up an outfit thatone can wear during the day whether it is for Zoom calls, preparing lengthy reportsfor work, sitting on the couch, watching TV, or cooking in the kitchen. We needthe quintessential outfits which keep us comfortable. Suddenly it has broughtthe focus on loungewear as we look for ways to make things a bit easier whenstaying indoors. It’s a normal, casual yet chic ensemble for your day to dayactivities.

Loungewear comes with comfort as well as fashion and it’salso more acceptable for the work video calls as opposed to sleepwear. Rightfrom slogan tees to shorts to PJs, they come in all shapes, sizes, and fabrics.With the onset of summer, we tend to ditch other fabrics for somethingbreathable for all day long wear and tear. As the temperature continues torise, follow the new fashion trend, and revamp your wardrobe with fresh, elevatedsummer looks. There’s nothing worse than feeling sweaty and sticky all day.With summer heat slowly getting unbearable, we will tend to experiencediscomfort not only physically but also financially. While some can stay coolby just turning on their air conditioning units, but at the same time, weshould try to reduce the energy use. Taking a cool bath or shower to lower yourbody temperature helps but for a little time. So, never underestimate the powerof your summer clothes. Going from an easy t-shirt to tanks and even shorts andsummer dresses, there are many ways to accentuate a summer look. 2019 had seenquite a few couture designers showcasing loungewear. These included Fendi,Alexander Wang, and more. However, it never took off as it wasn’t consideredappropriate workwear till the recent pandemic.

While loungewear as a category has been included by manybrands, this pandemic has put it in the spotlight. And in several countrieslike India, we may not even choose our comfort clothing from the loungewearcategory; it can be a comfortable pair of a casual t-shirt as well, but thefeatures are the same as that of good loungewear.

Some key ingredients make good loungewear what it is –super comfy. And a lot lies in the fibres used in fabrics. We are alwaysseeking options that offer ensembles that are soft and airy in summers to getthat soothing vibe. Ideal loungewear is usually made from fibres such aslyocell, modal, viscose, cotton, and blends. The blends are always a good ideato enhance aesthetics, softness, and functionality. TENCEL™ Modal and MicroModal stand out in this list owing to its super softness. And, having saidthat, it is always a good idea to shift to sustainable fashion and TENCEL™modal, TENCEL™ lyocell and ECOVERO™ (eco-viscose) are very good options. Thereis no better time than now to add them to your list.

During the excruciating heat of the summer season, clothes made with botanic, natural fibres are soothing towards your skin, are also available in environment-friendly options which are made in more eco-conscious way.  Fibres like TENCEL™ lyocell and TENCEL™ modal (check the tag next time you shop) apart from being a good breathable alternative are lightweight, retain colour for long, and are durable – a great option for a sustainable wardrobe. While being good at wicking, they also feel great directly against your skin. These cellulosic fibres of botanic origin provide a less favourable environment for bacterial growth while keeping our skin feeling pleasantly cool and dry.

It’s the time to take out those comfy t-shirts and shorts from your wardrobe or pick and stock your ecommerce cart with such essentials for summers. It's predicted that a good loungewear maybe the new normal, post the pandemic and the ingredients powering it will become even more popular. We are all looking forward to the 2020 summer fashion scene but undoubtedly the ranking of comfort while choosing your outfits is going to be at the top now.

About the author:

Arpit Srivastava is Country Marketing and Branding Manager, South Asia & Thailand at Lenzing Group.