The Covid-19 pandemic upended operations throughout the denim ecosystem, but the outlook on the other side is looking bright.

Denim, which helped answer consumers’ demand for casual comfort during the pandemic, is poised to be a go-to as shoppers return to normalcy and look for items that are easy, versatile and represent longevity. While 69 percent of U.S. consumers said they will wear denim jeans either the same amount or more often if they are working remotely in the coming year, even more (78 percent) said they would wear them if their office shifted to a casual dress code, according to data from Cotton Incorporated.

And although shoppers’ habits gravitated further online during the most uncertain days of the Covid outbreak, 66 percent of shoppers anticipate stocking up on their denim pieces in store going forward. As such, denim players now have a great opportunity to integrate services like BOPIS and livestreaming that capture e-commerce shoppers with community building in-store experiences for those who’d rather touch and feel.

During a Rivet roundtable on April 20, executives from the global denim supply chain shared how they have navigated the pandemic to optimize their inventory through inconsistent demand, what role stores will play going forward and how their sustainability efforts have been impacted over the past year. Additionally, analysts explained what the industry can do to rebound, and what fashion trends mills and manufacturers must capitalize on in 2021 and beyond.

Watch the webinar to learn more about:

• Whether straight and wide leg jeans are set to surpass skinny jeans in popularity
• Denim’s role in a more comfort-driven lifestyle
• How Diesel and Tenue de Nimes approached product flow during the pandemic
• How the industry can build on its sense of community through social justice engagement
• How denim sales can weather the 2020 job losses
• The creative business solutions that came out of the crisis

Speakers:

• Sonny Puryear, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Isko
• Patrick Valeo, CEO, Diesel
• Melissa Bastos, Director of Market Research, Cotton Incorporated
• Kristen Classi-Zummo, Director of Market Insights, The NPD Group
• Menno van Meurs, Owner, Tenue de Nimes
• Edward Hertzman, President, Sourcing Journal (moderator)