Sports Fashion – a True American Invention

Sports fashion design is an American invention. While Paris dictates most of the fashion trends, American designers in an effort to adapt to the rapidly changing and becoming fast-paced lifestyles started creating clothes in easy to care fabrics that are as easily washable.

While early sports fashion designs were intended for specific activities, the design were finely tailored, uncluttered, and very fashionable that early clients subscribing to the attire also used it for most daily activities that do not require formal wear. Sports fashion that are manufactured in Paris for example were designed and made by haute couture houses and establishments such as Channel, Schiaparelli and Patou that made sports fashion a high end fashion product, out of reach of ordinary consumers. The attire, while prescribed for specific activities is still considered high fashion and is not actually practical for high activity purposes.

On the other hand, the American prescribed sportswear were usually manufactured by ready to wear manufacturers, are innovative in design and are flexible for most sporting activities. Sports fashion seemed to start to earn more attention in the late 1930’s when more innovative sports fashion designers adapted their designs to what they termed as “problem solving-lifestyle applications” and where the overall desire was to adapt to the more relaxed American way of dressing. The effort was not easy though. During that period, beauty of attire and fashion is not judged according to utilitarian application. American sports fashion designers needed a different set of criteria for judging if it will be assessed fairly and if it is to be patronized by a wider public.

However, a unique issue was going out well for American sports fashion designers. Paris while dominating much of the trend imposed its design and fashion ideas to its customers regardless of the customers’ wishes. On the other hand, American sports fashion manufacturers look for current needs and wants of its clientele, are more democratic in its design approach. American designers are also more open to ideas as it relates to utilitarian and practical clothing. This led to American sports fashion designers being free for a need to copy haute couture and come out with original patterns and ideas of their own which in turn evolve into an art that is both stylish and allows greater freedom of movement. A revolution in fashion statement is started although it was still unthinkable during this period to incorporate elements of mans attire into designs intended for women’s wear.

During the 1960’s more and more women started wearing jeans. This is believed to play a large part in the evolution of sports fashion design where the idea for unisex apparel came to maturity. Very early into the 1970’s, designers like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein started creating attires that are very comfortable, stylish and multi-purpose clothes that are luxurious and practical. Later, designers like Mizrahi and Jacobs improved the tastefulness and popularity of sports fashion designs. These designers created a huge influence in current sport fashion that succeeding sport fashion designs to date have not yet deviated from the major ideas that they started.

Author Bio: Looking for cheap converse shoes? We’ll show you where to buy & those converse extra high tops too! Low Jeremy is an avid sports fan where he contributes interesting articles for websites.

Category: Sports
Keywords: Sports fashion design, Sports fashion design ideas

Leave a Reply