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By: Empire Bay

Date: 1980s

Source: Empire Bay Tracksuit Advertisement. The Advertising Archive. Image no. 30506691.

Introduction

By the late 1970s, sportswear and fashion were merging. A growing interest in fitness and exercise and an increase in body consciousness among Americans combined to create a new demand for fashionable exercise clothing. In the 1970s, the fashion industry began to respond by providing more appealing exercise clothing to replace the traditional gym shorts and old sweatshirt.

In the 70s and 80s, various influences were brought to bear on the new exercise fashions. The tracksuit was born when matching bottoms were added to the jacket tops athletes wore. Zip-fronted suits were inspired by the astronaut suits of the late 1960s. Fabrics normally used for casual, at-home, or workout attire, such as stretch velour and terrycloth, became...