The general economy is in recovery mode, bringing about a hard hit from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus shocks the working and headway of all business segments, including the fashion business. When the first case of coronavirus had occurred in early December 2019, it changed the world as we knew it. People were spending more time indoors, resulting in an upsurge in leisure time. This trend shifted people's priorities to casual wear as well as loungewear. For instance, according to research done by Euromonitor International, online sales for loungewear in 2021 increased to $3.8 billion. With this surge, ecommerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart stepped into the limelight through their direct-to-consumer (DTC) model. Moreover, due to lockdowns and social distancing measures that affected almost every aspect of life, there has been a rise in travel demand in major cities worldwide. All these factors together with changing trends created a lot of growth opportunities for the global and Indian brands and labels alike. However, owing to the unprecedented situation since the onset of the pandemic, consumer behaviour has changed drastically. Consumers are now being cautious and they have less time on hand to spend on shopping. As per new data published by Jio Platforms India, 44% of consumers have reduced their weekly expenditure and 22% of them have cut down their weekly expenses.

The shift to virtual engagements has influenced both brand marketing tactics as well as digital transformation. Many brands and retailers have adapted differently or completely transformed themselves. From adopting AI-powered recommendation engines to incorporating advanced technology (AI for chatbots) to better understand customers, here's what will be coming in the near future.

Fashion Trends To Look Out On For 2022

Online Shopping Has Become Bigger Since 2020--Forbes India

As we emerge out of the corona battle, where most sectors and businesses could not withstand such harsh conditions over the last couple years, the fashion industry has witnessed its best moment to date. According to Forbes Intelligence, India's retail trade value grew at a CAGR of 8.4% between January-November 2020 to Rs 1.11 lakh crore. Additionally, ecommerce marketplaces like Shopify registered 10% year-on-year share growth from November 2020 to December 2020 as compared to 12% during the same period for FY2020. These statistics show how fast the market is adapting to the current situations. Hence, given the massive spike in online footfalls since the beginning of 2021, one can expect that the number of women (51%) who shop online is going to increase exponentially. Meanwhile, if you're looking for any change in your approach or plans, we'd suggest you look into sustainable fashion options and alternatives.

What Is Sustainable Fashion? Definition & Examples

Sustainable fashion is defined as “fashions, accessories and textiles produced using materials that do not use toxic chemicals or produce harmful fumes/gases and which are produced without compromising the environment”. It does not mean that such types will not require processing or manufacturing processes; however, a proper procedure should be followed that would ensure ethical production. A few examples of sustainable fashion include silk, wool, leather, cashmere, etc. Thus, when choosing what kind of clothing to pick from, try to get clothes made from ethically certified suppliers. What Are Future Wearable Technologies You Should Know About? Why Use These Tech Innovations Now? How They Help Grow Businesses And Brands? Start Your Free Course Here

Fashion Trends May Change Over Time; Major Stages

As mentioned earlier, today's fashion landscape is constantly evolving, thanks to emerging trends and developments. Although the past decade saw some huge changes due to the pandemic that impacted economies and disrupted normal consumer behaviour, things might soon pick back up. But before that happens, it is vital to keep track of fashion trends and advancements.

How Changes Will Impact Retail Sector? How Can We Prepare Ourselves For Them?

In the post-pandemic era, consumers are expecting high-quality products and services. Besides, the way consumers purchase goods and services will also be different as many want convenience, flexibility, affordability and ease of access. Therefore, keeping in mind these requirements and trends, retailers have started investing heavily in technologies and gadgets to provide exceptional experiences to customers while satisfying their needs.

Top 5 Emerging Technological Trends That Will Shape The Next 18 Months!

Virtual Reality -- Virtual reality is a powerful method to engage audiences and boost engagement. Through VR technology, participants can go places and interact with others, as well as play scenarios and role-playing games. Similarly, Augmented reality takes real-life visuals and combines them with computer technology to create interactive content. Digital Twins -- Another futuristic development called virtual twin, digital twins can serve two roles: a personified representation of the product and the physical embodiment of a specific feature. Companies like IBM and Microsoft are already working on creating virtual twins. Mobile Apps — Smartphones have become common place for communicating and storing important information. Consequently, mobile applications enable greater accessibility for consumers to easily obtain details and products on any device; thus, creating ease of shopping. Furthermore, companies are testing apps based on cognitive learning and personalized advice to gain insights into customer needs, preferences and habits to design products or deliver customer service. Cloud Based Applications -- Software solutions like Adobe NetSuite help in automating repetitive tasks, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Also, data-led software enables enterprises to achieve faster decision-making; hence, allowing them to offer better experiences to clients. AR & VR- Augmented reality helps individuals to use virtual tools to interact with other aspects of life. It is basically the integration of computing devices such as cameras, sensors, and displays to project 3D images, sounds, and sensations in real-time. Augmented reality overlays pictures and videos onto a scene, so users can see and feel things by moving with them. Chatbots -- Automated conversations are becoming increasingly popular in recent times. Customers can communicate with organizations 24/7 and can initiate voice calls via messaging. While conversational interfaces allow consumers to interact with their favorite shopping portals and brands and enjoy seamless communications, artificial intelligence can analyze user queries and give quick decisions. Artificial intelligence in the retail sector plays an essential role in helping retailers understand consumer behaviours and interests and identify trends related to the overall customer journey as well as potential problems and recommendations. Blockchain Technology--Blockchain technology is an interconnected system of computers that records and stores transactions. Its main purpose is to ensure privacy and confidentiality of personal information, which can only be accessed by authorized parties with permission from blockchain network members. In addition, it can be used to keep track of transaction history and monitor business activities. There are numerous benefits associated with blockchain technology that include providing control and transparency over commerce, securing funds, removing fraud, building trust among stakeholders, and establishing shared identity.