Nobody Wants To Wear Jeans When They’re Working From Home

It’s hard out there for a denim company. Before COVID-19 struck in the U.S., jeans were on the rebound after years of activewear stealing away sales. The pandemic put a halt to that. Not only has it hammered overall sales of clothes in the U.S., but with countless offices closed and many workers doing their jobs from home, shoppers have given priority back to comfortable, stretchy products. It’s been tough on formal clothes, such as suits, and for jeans, which despite being a casual staple aren’t known as the comfiest option to sit in for long periods. Data from Panjiva, a division of market research firm S&P Global that tracks shipping data, found seaborne imports of denim items—including jeans, jackets, and other products—into the U.S. took a deep plunge in the second quarter compared to last year. While they have since bounced back somewhat, they remain down. Imports of formal clothing, including suits, shirts, and blouses, are sluggish too, while athleisure imports—think items such as sweatpants and yoga pants—have grown. Read more at Quartz.