Nostalgia is a beautiful thing. For those of us that grew up in the '90s, there are countless memories we hold dear to our hearts: the shoes, the athletes, the music, and the movies. And who could forget about the sportswear? There were Umbro shorts, Champion jerseys, JNCO jeans, Airwalks, snapbacks, Polo Sport, and Zubaz pants, and that's just a brief sampling. Like all trends, many of these eventually faded away (and in some cases, later reemerged stronger than ever), but they remain icons of a time period when grunge, New York hip-hop, and a man by the name of Mike had the world captivated.
Then, there's tracksuits. Said to be first introduced by adidas in 1964, these lightweight, matching jacket and pant sets quickly became synonymous with active lifestyles. Throughout the years, they've been introduced in a number of material, color, and style varieties, and even crossed over into the fashion world, with high-end brands like Gucci getting in on the fun.
Still, it seems that the tracksuit is more often than not associated with the likes of a Tony Soprano-type character, quite literally the antithesis of its intended purpose. Somewhere along the way, it was decided that the bold, daring designs of the late '80s to mid '90s just weren't "cool" anymore. Well, we're here to tell you different. '90s tracksuits embodied everything we loved about the era; the loud designs and the in-your-face attitude, all while keeping athletes comfortable. Check out the gallery above for visual evidence of Why Track Suits Were Cooler in the 90s.
Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things pop culture, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.
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Throwback tracksuits' all-nylon-everything construction kept it simple for a clean look and lightweight feel.
You can get a high-end look without paying high-end prices.
Tracksuits were super wearable and didn't look out of place as everyday attire.
Tracksuits came in all shapes and sizes.
Tracksuits made you look like a professional athlete.
Worn by everyone from blue collar workers to Puff Daddy (RIP Puff).
Tracksuits had the Presidential Seal of Approval in the '90s. (Step it up Obama!)
It's possible to rep your favorite squad without giant logos or predictable placement.
You could get Jiggy Wit It. (Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah...)
Tracksuits could up your swag so hard it would inspire sadness in others. #Schadenfreude
Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and a contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things pop culture, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.
RELATED: The Best Sneaker Instagrams of the Week
RELATED: Get Interactive With Dick’s Running 2014 Gear
