Retail in Asia

In Trends

Male shoppers seek web haven from shopping centres

Fashion is the fastest-growing segment of online commerce, and it’s being propelled by an atypical source: men.

Men who have had to live with department stores designed primarily for women are flocking to websites such as Bonobos and Thrillist that push convenience and a fast shopping experience. And these sites are capturing a growing part of the USD41 billion fashion e-commerce market by providing services like recommending items based on personality or shipping trunks of clothes to a guy’s home so he can pick.

"Men don’t hate fashion, they just hate shopping the way it’s designed for women," said Ben Lerer, founder of Thrillist, which gives men tips for activities or products and then sells them. "The young generation of guys love to shop, they love to talk about the brands they like and they really care about how they look."