Fashion doesn't always come from the runway. It doesn't even have to be all glitz and glamour. Activewear is no longer just reserved for sports and workouts. This style has left the gym and made its way into high fashion. But just how did this kind of clothing become the norm?
A lot of fashion brands are inspired by sports and athletes. Basketball shorts used to be short and tight. Early basketball uniforms even had belts around the pants. This all changed when a rookie named Michael Jordan started playing in the NBA. Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
He had one big superstition. He believed that his old University of North Carolina shorts brought him good luck, and refused to play important games without them. At the time, the basketball shorts in the league were too short and tight for Jordan to wear his North Carolina shorts underneath.
Michael requested longer shorts with more room. A few years later, almost everyone in the whole league was wearing the new, baggy shorts! Today, baggy shorts and jerseys are the norm in basketball.
Back in the 1920s, sportswear referred to comfortable clothing women wore to watch sports. Later on, the ensemble was made up of zip-up windbreakers and jackets. In the 1970s, Bruce Lee made stretchy tracksuits popular. Due to Bruce Lee's influence, these velour and terrycloth tracksuits were now popular and part of mainstream fashion.
Yoga wear left the studio and entered our everyday lives. It all started when the founder of Lululemon, Chip Wilson, had back problems, and he thought doing yoga would help with the pain. Chip Wilson wanted to create pants that would be perfect for doing yoga. And in 1998, Wilson opened the first Lululemon store in Vancouver, Canada. Lululemon was met with great success. Through strategic marketing, Lululemon also began to attract more male customers.
Many people believe Lululemon started a revolution. From Wilson's yoga wear, spandex was no longer confined to materials found in sportswear. Lululemon was able to mix spandex with everyday streetwear. This clothing hybrid is often referred to as athleisure. Athleisure caters to those that want their clothing to be comfortable and versatile. Some people think this style puts more emphasis on style and fashion instead of functionality.
Lululemon isn't the only athleisure company. Adidas is another well-known sportswear brand. Adolf "Adi" Dassler began to make sports shoes in his mother's laundry room after WWI. He also helped with the development of spiked running shoes. These shoes were designed for athletes to run on the tracks.
Initially, the spikes were made out of metal, but in order to improve performance, Dassler began to use rubber. In 1936 the Olympian sprinter, Jesse Owens, wore Dassler's shoes and won four gold medals. That was when his shoes became famous and the business was now successful! Of course, the Adidas we know today also sells a wide range of clothing such as t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, and leggings.
Decades ago, people had to adhere to strict dress codes. By today's standards, their dress code would be considered formal. The men wore suits and hats. The women wore suits over blouses paired with skirts and heels. But fashion is always changing. Athleisure has made its way into everyday attire due to the popularity of informal wear. Over time, people ditched their formal wear for regular occasions. The formal style had met its demise.
How do you think fashion will change?