Parachute pants
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Parachute pants are a style of trousers (pants) characterised by the use of ripstop nylon and/or extremely baggy cuts. In the original loose-fitting, extraneously zippered style of the early 80's, 'parachute' refers to the pants' synthetic nylon material. In the later 80s, 'parachute' may refer to the extreme baggyness of the pant. They are typically worn as men's wear, and are often brightly colored. Parachute pants gained media attention in US culture in the 1980s as part of an increased cultural awareness of break dancing.
Functional clothing
Early break dancers sometimes used heavy nylon to construct jumpsuits or trousers that would be able to endure contact with the dancing surface, or "break pad," while at the same time lessen friction with the ground, allowing fast and complex "downrock" routines without fear of friction burns or wear in clothing. Some (possibly apocryphal) sources attribute the use of actual parachute nylon being cut to make such trousers possible. In the later 80s, the term 'parachute pants' was used to describe pants that were somewhat baggy and narrow at the ankles, sometimes cinched with a tie cord running through the lower hem (unlike bell bottoms or wide leg baggy jeans), in order to increase mobility for dance moves requiring flexibility. Due to both the use of nylon in parachutes, and the large baggy appearance of the pants, the style of pants became known as parachute pants. Often early outfits were of a single color or slightly patchwork in nature, as they were sometimes made of found materials.
When manufactured and marketed as fashionable clothing, parachute pants were often constructed with lightweight synthetic fabrics, making this variety of pants more suitable for fashion than break-dancing.
Fashionable clothing
As fashion cut pants, parachute pants were popularized by hip-hop performers. From this point, they were often woven of loose, light fabric, with a low seat containing many folds, and sometimes printed with complex designs, ranging from neon patterns to prints resembling Middle Eastern pattern embroidery, contrasting the earlier monochromatic heavy jumpsuits and trousers. They were also sometimes seen with many zippers and pockets, although often the pockets existed only in order to apply another zipper or other superficial feature to the outfit, and the pocket(s) would not be large enough to be useable. Parachute pants were then used primarily in choreographed hip hop dancing, with the light, baggy fabric and folds visually enhancing the flowing rhythm of the dancers' moves, while allowing for greater comfort and mobility.
Occasionally one may incorrectly refer to Hammer pants (after MC Hammer) as parachute pants. By the time MC Hammer appeared on the pop culture scene in 1987, though, parachute pants were largely in disuse and breakdancing was in decline. Hammer's costume at the time included trousers that were extremely baggy and low-seated down to the calf, and tight down to the ankle. The look was used to emphasize dance movements in hip-hop routines (as opposed to the functionality of parachute pants used in breakdancing). Due to the similar look of baggy synthetic material (and either the anachronistic viewpoints of an older generation or the anachronistic viewpoints of a younger generation), Hammer Pants and parachute pants can be easily confused by some segments of the population.
Decline in use
Infrequent in today's fashion, this garment has received little serious exposure since the late 1980s, and by the early 1990s parachute pants were sometimes mocked in popular culture as emblems of the 1980s, much as flares (also known as "bell-bottoms") are associated with the 1970s.
Parachute pants had made a hidden comeback, however, as "Rave Pants." For a short time in the late 1990s/early 2000s, neon, khaki, or olive drab colored heavy duty nylon pants became popular in the rave scene. While these trousers didn't exist for breakdancing, but rather participating in a rave, they were still primarily worn for functional reasons: many pockets for use with concealment of one's wallet/money, water, accessories etc. Often, the pants had a zipper around the calf used to remove the lower part of the leg, or otherwise vent the leg, to increase cooling on hot dance floors; and they were durable and inexpensive. While the surface of the textiles used didn't have the gloss associated with parachute pants, they were much closer to the early 1980s version than the misnomer given to "Hammer Pants." They were made of the same or similar heavy-duty artificial materials, with the same fit, featuring a profusion of pockets and zippers, and driven by functional awareness. Interestingly, one can find adults who have worn both types of trousers during their respective eras, and that person will make no association between nearly identical "parachute pants" circa 1982 and "rave pants" circa 1998, despite identical cut and material.
Use in Camping
Having extra pockets or being able to drop them off with a zipper below the knee didn't come out of nowhere. The material was light and yet provided coverage, making it great for outdoors work, like camping. In fact, camping stores are (and continue to be) often the vendor of such pants.