Pinstripes are a pattern of very thinstripes of any color running in parallel. The pattern is often found infashion.
The pinstripe is often compared to the similar chalk stripe.[1] Pinstripes are very thin, often1⁄30 inch (0.85 mm) in width, and are created with one single-warp yarn.
Although found mostly in men's suits, any type of fabric can be pinstriped. Pinstripes were originally worn only on suit pants but upon being adopted in America during the 20th century they were also used on suit jackets.[2] TheChicago Cubs'baseball uniforms have had pinstripes since 1907 and they are recognized as the firstMajor League Baseball team to incorporate pinstriping into a baseball uniform[3] Many other former and current Major League Baseball teams—including theFlorida Marlins,Minnesota Twins,Montreal Expos,Colorado Rockies,New York Mets,New York Yankees,Chicago White Sox,Detroit Tigers,Philadelphia Phillies,Houston Astros and theSan Diego Padres—later adopted pinstripes on their own uniforms. The Yankees, in particular, are associated with the pattern.[4] This was later carried over into theNational Basketball Association, with teams like theChicago Bulls,Charlotte Hornets andOrlando Magic incorporating pinstripes into their uniforms.
References to pinstripes can be found inGeoffrey Chaucer'sThe Canterbury Tales (written between 1387 and 1400), where the Sergeant at the Law is described as wearing "a homely parti-coloured coat girt with a silken belt of pin-stripe stuff".[5] Pinstripes have been found on suits since the early 19th century. They were used by banks in London to identify their employees.[citation needed]