Tag Archives: formal

Hosiery Market Analysis

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I got these statistics online and I thought you may want to see that actually in some countries hosiery is on the rise.

Canada

In 2011 hosiery in Canada saw healthy sales growth, with an increase of 3% in volume and 6% in current value terms to reach C$1.4 billion in total by the end of the year. This represented healthy growth compared with the value drop experienced during the recession, although in terms of volume growth remained positive through the recession and slow recovery.

United Kingdom

Hosiery sales increased in both volume and value terms compared to 2010, growing by 2% and 5% respectively in 2011. The famous British Wellington Boots led to the trend of wearing "Wellies with socks", which proved very popular in 2011 with sales soaring. Over-the-knee socks had a large part to play in A/W 2012 Fashion weeks, and were featured by many popular designers. Large woollen socks worn with short skirts and a large overcoat hit the runways.

France

In 2011, hosiery volume sales remained on a declining trend while current value sales stabilised somewhat after consecutive years of marginal decline. This could be explained to a large extent by the efforts deployed by the main players to upgrade their offer through innovative and high-tech products. For instance, the leading socks player Groupe Kindy invested €1.5 million in research and development in 2011 to expand its product portfolio and offer ground-breaking products.

India

Companies making formal wear compulsory and the increasing number of students joining professional courses and colleges encouraged ongoing growth in demand for hosiery throughout 2011.

Spain

Cotton remains the main material used in the manufacture of hosiery. However, fabric is increasingly mixed with materials such as elastane, lycra and velvet, which increase the elasticity and comfort of hosiery considerably.

The Hosiery in Spain report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2006-2010 and analysis by distribution format allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, leading brands, and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market. Forecasts to 2015 illustrate how the market is set to change.

China

Hosiery experienced 8% current value growth to reach HK$1,649 million in 2011. This represented a strong slowdown versus 2010 with the necessary nature of hosiery helping to support the continued positive performance of this category in 2011.

Germany

Volume sales saw a small decline of less than 1% in 2011. The positive development of values sales has been achieved through the increase of unit prices. An increase in costs due to higher cotton prices and costs for energy induced manufacturers to raise prices. This price increase has been transferred to other customers.

Russia

In 2010, hosiery sales registered 5% growth in volume terms and 16% growth in current value terms. The increase in demand is attributed to the growth in consumers’ disposable income, and hence, rising living standards. Consumers have greater requirements as their quality of life improves. Hosiery is no longer darned, and after the first hole appears is typically discarded. Modern businessmen in cities do care about what socks are visible under their trousers.

Hosiery to suit the season and the occasion

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A young woman in lingerie is browsing through her pantyhose while getting ready for work.

Nowadays, hosiery comes in a huge variety of different styles and colours, which means that the modern woman has a lot of freedom when it comes to what she wears on her legs every season.

However, this variety also means that it is easy to get carried away and choose something that is not appropriate for the occasion.

For example, if you are a professional woman, going to work in a place with a dress code, you should avoid wearing bright colours or ‘busy’ patterns. These can make you look less professional, and if they clash with your outfit, the effect can be even worse.

According to the etiquette book I’ve read recently, in their hosiery section they suggest for business women to wear light colour like beige or tan hosiery in the summer and black or charcoal in winter.

This is how I keep my pantyhose – in original packaging stacked in a box for easy retrieval.

I strongly suggest to keep your hosiery well organized.  If this is something that you wear a lot, it is a good idea to have plenty of it and keep it well arranged patterns separately, stay ups separately, and so on.

That way, if you have been relaxing in the morning over breakfast and realize that you are almost late for work, you will not have the disastrous realization that you are out of proper hosiery.

If you have some damaged hosiery that you fixed and still wear with boots or under pants, make sure it is kept in a separate bag all together from all the good ones.  As you know, I am a big fan of recycling myself.

I strongly suggest to keep flawed pantyhose (that are to be worn with boots or under pants) separately from the new ones. You don’t want to be late for work in the morning because you had to sort through a pile of hosiery.

 

If you are not into separating it, it’s better to throw it away because  there is nothing worse than putting on a pair of hosiery and arriving to work, only to notice that they have a run in from the last time your wore them.

Knowing how fragile the hosiery can be, it is suggested to keep an extra pair in your purse or at your desk.  I also found this being mentioned in the etiquette book that I’ve read.

On the weekends, you can be more adventurous with your hosiery, perhaps going for some colours or patterns.  We all get tired from our work clothes.

zverni uvagu show putting on pantyhose

Keep in mind the season and the occasion.

But hey, even when not at  work, it is a still important to make sure that the rest of your outfit goes will with them in order to avoid looking like a clown.  A rule of thumb is that if you are wearing patterns in your clothing, your hosiery must be plain.  If you are wearing plain clothing, then you can consider adding patterned hose to complete the outfit.

*Friends, the only funding for this blog is from the shop section.  Please indulge your pantyhose obsession and show some support for my work!  Your purchases make this blog possible.*

Cuban chambermaids in hosiery despite the heat – Controversy

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Every time I am in Cuba, I am surprised to see female hotel staff wear hosiery at all times despite the heat with closed toe shoes.  If I’d have that job, I probably wouldn’t be able to take it anymore and would go ahead and jump in the pool.

A model is posing in a maid outfit near the pool. Courtesy of WamInStyle team.

Just recently one of the women I know returned from Cuba and that was the first thing she mentioned to me, knowing about my hosiery obsession.

To my surprise Cuban staff wear hosiery, but not basic plain.  They all seemed to show off with a variety of patterned tights.  Not only that they wear it, they put effort to draw attention.

I also visited Dominican Republic and Mexico, but their staff go with bare legs.  Only Cuba seems to maintain such high dress code standard.

I can’t really say if I like the idea despire my love for hosiery.  To me clothes should not jeopardize one’s health.  At temperatures soaring close to 40 Celsius wearing synthetic fabrics may lead to skin irritation, fungus infection, and to additional female problems.

Once I was walking all stylish in the heat of the Middle East and the next day ended up with an excema-like rash on my skin.  Locals confirmed that this is what happens to them too if they don’t dress smartly in such heat.

Do you think that pantyhose should still be enforced in extreme heat?  I would probably suggest in summer months to wear fine fishnet stockings (no silicon lining) with a garter belt in order to both look stylish and not feel too hot.

*Friends, the only funding for this blog is from the shop section.  Please indulge your pantyhose obsession and show some support for my work!  Your purchases make this blog possible.*