Jordan Atkinson had not walked into a suit store in over two years but now he is back, along with millions of other workers around the globe in a mass return to the office.
That means the demand for superfine wool that makes high-end suits is on the rise — along with some slight adjustments to waist sizes.
"I'm really excited to get back into the office and collaborate with teams, have team lunches, and not sit in front of a Zoom call for eight hours a day. I'm really excited."
And so are retailers.
Menswear manufacturer Peter Jackson said sales have risen as much as 60 per cent since the peak of the pandemic.
Michael Osher has worked in the industry for over 40 years and said he was noticing workplaces quickly coming back to life.
"There's quite a few people now. You can tell when you're on the train. You get a lot of people who can't get a seat," Mr Osher said.
Suits come surging back
More than 80 per cent of Australian wool is cleaned and processed in China before being sent around the world to countries like the US and Japan.
Rabobank agricultural analyst Dennis Voznesenski said US suit and wool imports fell by about 70-80 per cent during the lows of the pandemic, but it had picked up.
"But it's important to note we're still around 11 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, so we're recovering. Just not fully yet."
The benefits are being seen through the entire supply chain.
Central Victorian farmer Jeremy Phillips and his family produce the superfine wool used in high end suits.
"I've got to admit I've been somewhat surprised because everyone thought, obviously, with COVID, things did crash for a short period of time," he said.
The price for their wool has recently doubled.
"You spend all your life working and it's really good to get some rewards for sure," Mr Phillips said.
His 19-year-old daughter Hannah also helps out on the farm.
Suit retailers may expect return customers over the next few months.
"I've got to go to a wedding in Newcastle in June, and I'll need another suit for that," Mr Atkinson said.
