SEOUL, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — With a sweltering summer heat wave dragging on in South Korea, hats with wide brims that can help block the scorching sunshine are enjoying rising popularity.
At online shopping mall Gmarket, sales of sedge and straw hats with wide brims rose by 19 percent during the past month starting from June 20 compared to a month earlier.
SSG.com also saw its hat sales rise by 27 percent during the July 1 to 20 period compared to a month earlier.
“Hats with wide brims that can cover the face and back of neck are top sellers throughout all age groups,” Gmarket said.
The number of customers who purchased hats offline also increased. Hypermarket chain Lotte Mart marked a 46.4 percent growth in hat revenue during the July 1 to 19 period compared to a month earlier.
One of the primary factors behind the surge in demand for hats is the increase in the number of people who enjoy outdoor walking or cycling as the use of indoor exercise facilities such as gyms is restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
