With trends coming and going, it seems to be men’s full tracksuits and streetwear that have stayed relevant in trends, with them growing in popularity even more. We are beginning to see big house names like Prada and Gucci represent these pieces on their runways and if these are giving the tracksuit the time of day, then you can only expect it to trickle through into trends and hype.

While it’s important to note that suits are making a slow comeback, there seems to be a balance between the two, but tracksuits and other forms of athletic wear have taken the crown this spring and summer. Let’s dive into the rise and potential fall of this trend.

When Did Tracksuits Become The New Suit?

It all began in the ’60s and ’70s when athletic wear was once just worn for practicality during the playing of sports and was being introduced into films. Whether it was in a Bruce Lee film or a film based on what fashion was like in Italian mafia families. Tracksuits such as Sergio Tacchini tracksuits became popular around these times, but other adaptations were being added to the list, such as men’s hoodies sale and sweatshirts with sleeves cut off, sweat bangs and many other little glimpses into athletic pieces being added to mainstream fashion.

While suits were still the norm for most people, those who didn’t live a 9-5 life preferred comfort and style over suits and we began to see that a lot more in the 90s and early 00s when streetwear, hip hop and an alternative style of fashion were born.

You have rappers wearing full baggy tracksuits and skaters representing sports brands in their outfits. It was inevitable that people would choose casual, stylish and comfortable pieces over the suits and I do not blame them. While suits are classic and smart, they weren’t necessary with the times, especially with social media, television and other areas taking off. There were no representations in the media that have significantly impacted the fashion industry.

What About Modern Times?

In more recent years, tracksuits, among other pieces, have become extremely popular with the rap scene, influencers and big house names, giving them their full representation in the media and fashion industry.

These are not the only reasons why suits have been pushed back. With the rising popularity of remote and hybrid working styles, the need to dress smart has become less of a priority. The evolution of the term smart casual seems to be a new thing but a lot of job styles have loosened the restrictions on what they can wear to work, such as casual Fridays and jeans instead of suit pants.

There are so many options in terms of tracksuits and athleisure wear. It seems to be the hottest thing on the market ever since Covid-19. We can expect to see tracksuits forever being a popular piece for people to reach for, but be on the lookout for the rise of suits to come back.