When we look at the long and rich history of sportswear, it’s not difficult to see that it has changed over the years. Sports clothing and footwear have always been popular both within sports and outside of it, as it has become a symbol of wellness, health and status. However, sportswear has also become a very relaxed fashion statement, which has contributed greatly to the success of many sporting legends.
Taking an objective look at the history of sportswear over the years is a fascinating topic. It’s a rich history with many different twists and turns, and the modern-day examples of sportswear are a unique topic of discussion. Let’s take a look at the evolution of sportswear and how it has changed over the years.
A Changing World
Once upon a time, sportswear used to be associated with convenience. However, that’s not the case anymore. Nowadays, sporting heroes are just as glamorous both on the court and off. What they wear has really helped to sell this image.
We’ve been able to design new fabrics and materials that can be used to create more effective sports clothing. Big brands have pioneered making sportswear in everyday fashion. It’s a far cry from the day when the only time you wore a pair of tennis shoes was on the tennis court. There are also many who wear custom sportswear for the purpose of promoting their team, brand or business. Advancements in both machinery and customisation techniques have led to a surge in demand for printed and personalised sportswear.
A big focus has been put on comfort.
Not so long ago, sportswear was designed for a practical purpose, but nowadays, it’s all about comfort. For example, a lot of sports clothing has been made to be sweat repellent. This means that they help to keep the players cool without compromising on the quality. When you consider that being too hot or too sweaty can throw a player off their game, it’s important to wear modern sports clothing which is made from these moisture wicking and technical fabrics. Sports apparel has also been designed to be more flexible. Modern fibres such as Elastane and Polyamide are a lot more stretchy and durable, which means that they offer improved flexibility on the field without having to worry about damaging them.
An interesting fact about custom sportswear worn by individuals and teams alike is that colour plays a big role in how things are designed. When you’re participating in a sporting event, the colour of the apparel that you wear means something. It can be used as a way to demonstrate your authority and create confidence. It becomes a very psychological tool and something that a lot of people don’t necessarily appreciate. If you look at any of the sporting uniforms worn by big football teams or tennis players, then you’ll notice that there are often quite bold colours; it’s a very visual statement.
Talking about modern sports clothing and attire can be an interesting discussion. When you think about modern sports apparel, you naturally assume a very streamlined, aerodynamic shape. Although this is true when it comes to the attire worn by those competing in sports such as athletics, modern sports attire now come in many forms and guises.
Today’s sportswear has become a fashion statement all of its own. Although it is difficult to know exactly when this took place, it could be argued that the catalyst was the signing of Michael Jordan by Nike in 1984. This multi-million-dollar deal culminated in the creation of the Air Jordan product range and enabled Nike to promote their trainers and apparel to a young audience who saw Michael Jordan as a sporting icon.
It is undeniable that sports clothing now plays an important role in modern day fashion. All the major sports brands are aware of this, and they push it as the next way to dress trendy.
It’s not exactly difficult to see why either. We’ve had a cultural shift in the last 30 to 40 years. Once upon a time, everybody wore suits and formal clothing, even when they were out and about in everyday life. It was just the given fashion trend. It was about professionalism and looking respectable, operating with a certain level of dignity.
However, in recent times, with the new generation and new ideas, we’ve begun to leave that thought process behind and instead adopt a very relaxed, very informal style of dress. There are still a group of people who will actively wear formal clothing every day, but a lot of younger people have begun to adopt more of a casual fashion statement. Sportswear is just a prime example of this. It’s socially acceptable to wear a pair of jogging bottoms and trainers out and about. They’ve been designed in such a way that they are eye-catching and make a statement.
It’s a very interesting cultural shift, but it is a key part of where modern fashion is and how sportswear ties into that. What we consider to be normal has changed over the last few decades, and sportswear has evolved with it. It’s no longer the case of ugly sports jerseys thrown over a pair of jeans. Now, the whole outfit is meant to match, and it’s a very relaxed fit.
So, what are some of the modern trends when it comes to sports clothing? What sort of things should you be keeping in mind? There are a couple of different options to think about, so let’s take a look.
Yoga culture has gotten pretty popular now. This means fashion has evolved to meet that. The general trend that you see with yoga-based fashion is loose, stretchy clothing and a very relaxed fashion style. If it wouldn’t be practical trying to do a stretch, it’s probably not for the yoga crowd.
Greater size inclusivity is also a very big part of modern sports clothing. We are moving into an era where body positivity is at an all-time high, which is a good thing, but it means that sportswear needs to be able to fit the larger members of society. Anybody with a body type that isn’t lean and muscular needs accurate and reasonable representation in clothing options. It’s not fair otherwise.
Technology in sports clothing is becoming a popular trend. The growing sophistication of smart wear means that now people can have clothing which tracks their physiological condition and provides a cohesive update for the user. Average heart rate, oxygen levels, calories burned, walking or running speed - the metrics which can be acquired are highly varied.
At the moment, we’re also seeing a resurgence of the 1990s in terms of anaesthetic design. People like the 90s for being a charming and memorable period accurately portrayed in many different forms of media. Nowadays, the brave fashion choices of the 90s are beginning to come back around, as we’ve got just far enough away from it that people are beginning to appreciate the nostalgia factor. Sportswear was a thing in the 90s, and now it’s coming back, with the same designs and colour choices starting to be used in modern clothing lines.
So, the rise of sportswear over the years has begun to be pretty important. Once upon a time, sportswear was not something that people wore outside of playing sports. It was bulky and heavy-duty, with lots of cumbersome lines and thick material. However, technology and fashion have evolved. We’ve reached for a more relaxed style of fashion these days, and sportswear is leading the charge. It’s good when doing sports, and it’s good for every day.
It’s clear that there are quite a few trends that come with sportswear. It’s nice to see that sustainable clothing is at the forefront of people's minds because we really do need to find a way of producing clothing that isn’t killing the environment.
The emphasis on inclusive sports clothing is quite nice too. Sports has a bit of a stigma around it for anybody that’s not conforming to a certain body type, especially when it comes to sports clothing, so being able to get clothing items that are much more inclusive and made for those larger sizes is really nice.
At the end of the day, sports clothing is one of those things that will continue to grow and evolve with the times. It’s easy to see that people have a broad selection of different offerings, which helps a lot when it comes to getting the best results. It’s a constantly evolving industry, and as more trends develop, sports clothing will probably learn to adapt to them.
