The number of office workers commuting in shorts has risen sharply in major cities such as Tokyo and London this summer, as persistent heat waves prompt even conservative companies to loosen their rules and push fashion retailers to roll out lighter clothing.
Tokyo has expanded its so-called "Cool Biz" campaign this year, which encourages workers to skip neckties and jackets, according to Reuters on the 24th local time. The city has begun recommending that employees wear shorts instead of long trousers, along with T-shirts and sneakers.
A similar shift is emerging across Europe as the heat intensifies. More employers are allowing lighter attire, while in some cases workers are choosing shorts on their own without any formal guidance.
The trend is visible across major European business hubs, from London's financial district of Canary Wharf to Frankfurt, Germany. DNB, Norway's largest bank, has allowed employees to wear shorts. The bank said it meant "something of a certain length and neat, rather than a ballerina skirt or excessively short 1970s-style soccer shorts."
Still, many companies continue to bar shorts in the office. Insurer Swiss Re sent employees an email in June with tips for coping with the heat, advising them to drink water often, take breaks when needed and even swim in Lake Zurich across from the office. But it added a note that "shorts are for the weekend."
Some in the labor movement argue that dress codes should be applied flexibly, given that high temperatures directly affect workers' health and safety. IG Metall, Germany's largest labor union, and the service-sector union Verdi have called for workplace dress codes to be eased or waived when temperatures rise sharply.
Some workers are taking action themselves. A bus driver in Warsaw, Poland, wore a skirt to work this month in protest of a uniform that includes long, poorly ventilated polyester trousers. A petition started by a colleague asking that drivers be allowed to wear shorts during heat waves has drawn more than 400 signatures.
The fashion industry is also responding quickly to the changing culture. According to major British retailers, sales of linen shorts and suits have surged as men seek breathable fabrics. Martha Hibberd, a menswear buyer at British department store John Lewis, said the line between office wear and holiday fashion is blurring.
At retailer Marks & Spencer, sales of men's linen trousers jumped 183% from a year earlier in June and July this year. H&M, one of Europe's largest fashion companies, is increasing its stock of lightweight clothing while delaying the launch of its fall collection beyond the usual schedule. A company official said that when it comes to climate change, there appears to be no going back.
