Tracksuit
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2010) |
A tracksuit is an article of clothing consisting of two parts: trousers and a jacket usually with front zipper. It was originally intended for use in sports, mainly as what athletes wore over competition clothing (such as running shirt and shorts or a swimsuit) and would take off before competition. In modern times, it has become commonly worn in other contexts. The tracksuit was one of the earliest uses of synthetic fibers in sportswear.[1]
A descendant of the tracksuit, the shell suit, which arrived in the late 1980s, was popular with the hip hop and breakdancing scene of the era.[2] They were manufactured from a mix of cellulose triacetate and polyester making them shiny on the outside, with distinctive combinations of colours.
Most tracksuits have a mesh interior which allows the user to wear them without any undergarment such as underwear. This is much like a bathing suit. Many people wear it for physical exercise sessions. A sauna suit is a specialized form of tracksuit made of a waterproof fabric such as coated nylon or PVC that is designed to make the wearer sweat profusely. Sauna suits are primarily used for temporary weight loss.
History
Tracksuit trousers remain popular, although in contrast to the bright colours characteristic of shell suits in the 1980s (which are often cited as a faux pas of 1980s fashion),[3] they are commonly worn in muted colours such as grey, black or navy blue.
See also
References
- ^ Craik, Jennifer (2005). Uniforms Exposed (Dress, Body, Culture). Oxford, UK: Berg Publishers. p. 171. ISBN 1-85973-804-4.
- ^ "History of The Shellsuit". Iloveshellsuits.com. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
- ^ "Fitness Fashion History in the late C20th after 1960". Retrieved 2009-01-25.