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Sweatpants are acasual variety of softtrousers intended forcomfort orathletic purposes, although they are now worn in many different situations. In the United Kingdom, they are called joggers. In Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa they are known astracksuit bottoms ortrackies. In Australia and New Zealand, they are also commonly known astrackpants,tracky daks.[1] They are also referred to asjogging pants in Canada.
The first pair of sweatpants was introduced in the 1920s byÉmile Camuset, the founder ofLe Coq Sportif. These were simple knitted grayjersey pants that allowed athletes to stretch and run comfortably.[2] Sweatpants became commonplace at theOlympic Games by the late 1930s, and were seen on many athletes in the decades that followed.[3]Adidas introduced thetracksuit that combined the sweatpants with a track top in 1964, which helped popularize athletic fashion.[4] The rise offitness culture, as well as the birth ofhip hop in 1980s America, led to the popularization of sweatpants as both leisurewear andstreetwear.[5]
College students also contributed to sweatpants' rise in popularity in the United States. Since the 1910s, "sportswear" has been a staple in college campus style and in the 1970s and 80s designers began reimagining the "jersey knit fabric that had been used for gym garb" into clothes for students' everyday wear.[6] Despite their rise in popular culture, sweatpants were often criticized in mainstream media in the 1990s and early 2000s; in the American sitcomSeinfeld, the title character, Jerry, tells his friend "you're telling the world you've given up" when he appears in sweatpants.
Fashion shifted during theCOVID-19 pandemic and the resulting increase inremote work. Sales of sweatpants have increased since 2019,[7] and many high-end fashion brands have moved toward creating simpler, athletic-casual inspired looks.[8]
At one time, these 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. Sweatpants may come from many different materials and in many forms including thick and thin. Sweatpants are sometimes associated with certain lifestyles such asgym culture orhip-hop culture.[9] This niche-specific perception of sweatpants 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 cafés and a substantial number of nightclubs worldwide.[10]
There are many variations on sweatpants design that have evolved to define their own categories of athletic pants. These variations includefashion pants,windpants,tearaway pants, andmuscle pants.[citation needed]
Fashion pants typically refers to fashion conscioussportswear. These pants are often made from a variety of materials, likevelvet orsatin, and in many color combinations or patterns. One distinguishing characteristic is that fashion pants generally lack the elastic band at the ankles. They are considered a form ofathleisure wear.[11]
Windpants are similar to sweatpants but are lighter and shield the wearer from cold wind rather than insulate. Windpants are typically made of polyester or nylon, with a liner made of cotton or polyester. The nylon material's natural friction against both itself and human legs makes "swooshing" sounds during walking. Windpants often have zippers on each ankle, letting athletes unzip the end of each leg, allowing the pants to be pulled over their footwear.[citation needed]
Tearaway pants, also known asbreakaway pants,rip-off pants, orpopper pants are closely related to windpants. Tearaway pants are windpants withsnap fasteners running the length of both legs. The snaps allow athletes to remove their tearaway pants in a timely manner to compete in some sports. Basketball and track and field are the two sports most commonly associated with tearaway pants.[citation needed]
Naomi Watts: 'I look like a completely different person when I just wake up and get my tracky daks on'
