Sweatpants

Three young men wearing grey sweatpants

Sweatpants are a casual variety of soft trousers intended for comfort or athletic purposes, although they are now worn in many different situations. In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa they are known as tracksuit bottoms or jogging bottoms. In Australia, they are also commonly known as trackpants, trackies or tracky daks.^[1]

History

The first pair of sweatpants was introduced in the 1920s by Émile Camuset, the founder of Le Coq Sportif. The sweatpants were simple knitted gray jersey pants that allowed athletes to stretch and run comfortably.^[2]

Design

Sweatpants are usually made from cotton or polyester, often of a heavy knit. They often have elastic in the waistband, drawstrings, and may or may not have pockets. Some sweatpants can also feature elasticized cuffs at the hem of the leg. Sweatpants are traditionally ash gray in color but are now available in most colors. Traditionally quite "baggy" and loose, sweatpants are now also available in more form-fitting shapes; moreover they have flexibility and comfort. In addition, this design traps less heat than most conventional, lightweight trousers, which may be a disadvantage in some conditions such as cold temperatures and an advantage in others such as body heat–increasing aerobic activities. Warmer varieties can be made from polar fleece.

Culture

Once these practical pants were only worn for sporting events and at home. Now, they are available in many fashionable styles and are worn in a variety of public situations. Because of their comfort and fashion, they have become a popular choice of clothing. The sweatpant may come from many different materials and in many forms including thick and thin. The sweatpant is sometimes associated with certain lifestyles such as gym culture or hip-hop culture.^[3] This niche-specific perception of the sweatpant since the 1980s has at times resulted in extensive dress code regulations with some outlets outright banning the wearing of sweatpants on their premises; including some German cafes and a substantial amount of nightclubs worldwide.^[4]

Variations

Woman wearing tearaway pants

There are many variations on the sweatpant design that have evolved to define their own categories of athletic pants. These variations include fashion pants, windpants, tearaway pants, and muscle pants.

See also

• Sportswear (activewear)

References