A tracksuit is an article of clothing consisting of two parts: trousers and a jacket usually with a front zipper. It was originally intended for use in sports, mainly for athletes to wear over competition clothing (such as running shirt and shorts or a swimsuit) and to take off before competition. In modern times, it has become commonly worn in other contexts. The tracksuit was one of the earliest uses of synthetic fibers in sportswear.[1]
A descendant of the tracksuit, the shell suit, which arrived in the late 1980s, was popular with the hip-hop and breakdancing scene of the era.[2] They were manufactured from a mix of cellulose triacetate and polyester making them shiny on the outside, with distinctive combinations of colours.[3]
Most tracksuits have a mesh interior which allows the user to wear them without any undergarment such as underwear. This is much like a bathing suit. Many people wear it for physical exercise sessions. A sauna suit is a specialized form of tracksuit made of a waterproof fabric such as coated nylon or PVC that is designed to make the wearer sweat profusely. Sauna suits are primarily used for temporary weight loss.
- ^ Craik, Jennifer (2005). Uniforms Exposed (Dress, Body, Culture). Oxford, UK: Berg Publishers. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-85973-804-7.
- ^ "History of The Shellsuit". Iloveshellsuits.com. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
- ^ "Fitness Fashion History after 1960". Retrieved 2013-05-02.