You open a woman’s wardrobe and you will encounter numerous scarves, sashes, handbags, dupattas crowding the door-racks whereas a clutter of dresses, skirts, salwar-kameezes, shorts, jeans and tops will occupy the shelves. Let’s go to a man’s closet now. Hell! There are a few shirts of exactly the same size and type in the shades of light blue, pale blue, barely blue and white, a few more T-shirts stripped and plain and fewer formal trousers and one worn out pair of jeans. However, the cliché that Indian men don’t experiment with their clothes is up for scrutiny as it is being claimed that “men have started experimenting. It’s slow but it’s happening”.
Designer Rajvi Mohan is certain that confident men are open to experimenting, to showing and reflecting their personality in what they wear. To answer why don’t we see many “fashionable men” around, Rajvi says, “It is simply because it’s catching up. The knowledge required in menswear is different so the switch will take time. The Indian menswear industry will take time to reach the stage of those international markets. But the change is around the corner.”
Whereas designer Abdul Halder feels, “Men do spend a good amount as well as time on clothing. Indian menswear market is very strong and there is so much to explore. New Age men are conscious about looking good and are specific about colours, fits and accessories. What we do need is the right marketing skills and right platform.”
Mumbai-based designer Troy Costa, who has studied the international as well as domestic markets quite well reveals that though the menswear market in India is evolving, the rate is pretty slow. “The global market thrives on menswear. Designers earn from menswear. It’s getting bigger like crazy. Here the market is not defined yet because we neither have the infrastructure nor a successful business model. Men are eager to experiment with their clothing. They are buying their Armanis, Pradas, Guccis and what nots. However, the hopeless pricing by domestic designers has killed the market and the customer is instead opting for international brands which come cheap and bring with them the flaunt value as well,” explains Troy.
Men are definitely experimenting but that’s a very niche segment and select age group, feels designer Joy Mitra and adds one can see the 20s men going for quirky elements or a splash of colour, but middle-aged men don’t like taking risks.
Agrees designer Manish Tripathi, who counts Sachin Pilot, Nitin Gadkari and other politicians among his clients. He says, “Men are very objective when it comes to dressing. They have it clear in their head what they want. They are very particular about the cuts and style. Unlike womenswear where even a safety pin used in case of an emergency becomes an accessory, men stick to their requirements. I don’t see many men following any ‘trends’. They are scared to enter uncharted waters.”
Nonetheless Rajvi has full faith in the market and is patient enough to see it grow even if it grows inch by inch. “Indian men will find their individual style. I think that subtle shift in thinking that ‘it’s okay to be a man and be interested in the way you look’ has already started to come about. Now we just have to wait for it to spread like should and it will be in the forefront!” sums up Rajvi.