From Shellsuits to Performance Clothing: How Sports Fashion has Improved

The Fashionisto

/

Published September 21, 2012

TracksuitThe right gear is of paramount importance in every sport; be it cricket, basketball, tennis or athletics. Each sport has some unique requirement and the clothes should be able to meet those, while providing comfort, protection and decoration to the players. Apart from these basic objectives, sports clothing also helps to differentiate between teams and individuals from one another in various sports.

Well-dressed teams often have a psychological advantage derived from the satisfaction of looking and feeling good, as well as the presence of an enhanced personality. Watkins stated in 1984 that clothing creates the most intimate environment that is carried everywhere with the individual.

From tracksuits and shell suits in clashing colour combinations, also voted as the worst fashion disaster of the last 50 years, sports fashion has evolved by leaps and bounds. Sports clothing is also one of the best ways to protect from injury-causing impact, especially in contact sports. With protective sports gear that includes body padding, football helmets, pads and shin guards, it helps restrict and diffuse an impact.

As artificial turfs began developing, new types of injuries surfaced, giving rise to the need of a more protective sports gear. Moreover, it is an established fact that sports clothing needs to be more flexible and dynamic, allowing greatest possible freedom to the sportsperson. More importantly, sports clothing needed to be different from regular wear, as that creates a layer of insulation to trap heat. While exercising, the body produces more heat and, hence, sports clothing needs to be of a material that allows the body to breathe.

Today, sports clothing is a scientific area that encompasses psychology, physics and kinesiology. The latter is closely related to physiology, anatomy and biomechanics that looks into clothing design kinematics dealing with movement variables. The sport, weather, societal norms, occasion and values are other factors that are responsible for the variation in different sports clothing.

With the development of performance fabrics and fibres, sports clothing has taken on a higher leap. After decades of research, various fabric technologies have been introduced that are meant to boost the performance of sportsperson with features such as waterproof barriers, breathable and fleece. Fabrics have been created to counter problems of temperature control, sweat management, protection and safety, performance enhancement as well as water and wind resistance.

New technology with phase change material and UV protection are being developed to meet identified needs of sportsmen. From basic clothing to technologically advanced hi-tech version, sports clothing is certainly what it used to be earlier.

Find the latest sports fashion and performance clothing for men at www.jdsports.co.uk/men/mens-clothing/


Recent Updates

Mark Lee Covers Elle Korea April 2024 in Polo Ralph Lauren

Mark Lee Covers Elle Korea April 2024 in Polo Ralph Lauren

Mark Lee of NCT fame graces the April 2024 covers of Elle Korea. Photographed by Shin Sunhye and styled by ...
Matteo Berrettini Fronts BOSS Spring 2024 Watch Campaign

Matteo Berrettini Fronts BOSS Spring 2024 Watch Campaign

Matteo Berrettini brings new energy to timekeeping in BOSS' latest spring-summer 2024 campaign. The German brand, known for blending traditional ...
John Mayer for Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

John Mayer for Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

John Mayer and Audemars Piguet have collaborated to create a special edition of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar that captivates ...
Antoine Griezmann Moves Forward for Mango Spring 2024 Ad

Antoine Griezmann Moves Forward for Mango Spring 2024 Ad

Mango's spring 2024 campaign, "Move Forward," narrated by Antoine Griezmann's life and aspirations, aligns the athlete's spirit with the brand's ...
Kingsley Ben-Adir Fronts Gucci Horsebit 1953 Loafer Ad

Kingsley Ben-Adir Fronts Gucci Horsebit 1953 Loafer Ad

British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir stars in the new Gucci advertisement for the reinvented Horsebit 1953 loafer. The campaign offers a ...
Lenny Kravitz x Ray-Ban Reverse: Gold-Plated Glamour

Lenny Kravitz x Ray-Ban Reverse: Gold-Plated Glamour

Ray-Ban unveils its new collaboration with singer and actor Lenny Kravitz. The new capsule collection merges Ray-Ban's iconic design heritage ...