Sports Apparel
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Sports apparel is clothing worn to play sports, or clothing worn to show people that you enjoy sports. In competition, athletes typically wear a sports uniform — a baseball uniform, soccer uniform, karate uniform or rugby uniform — at every level from local recreation to professional leagues. Spectators buy the same world of clothing from the other side: team apparel lets fans look like members of the team, in sizes from toddler to 5XL. The everyday sports wardrobe runs from shorts, t-shirts and sports bras to sweat suits, warm-ups, baseball caps, helmets, swimwear and athletic footwear such as sneakers, cleats and turf shoes.
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Well it is either clothing that you wear to play sports, or it is clothing that you wear to show people that you enjoy sports. Either way, sports apparel is definitely relevant to sports.
When playing in athletic competition, one would typically wears what is called a sports uniform or an athletic uniform. Whether the sport is played at a local level (recreationally) or professionally, the majority of sporting activities utilize some sort of sports uniforms. For example, a baseball uniform, soccer uniform, karate uniform, rugby uniform etc. You name the sport, most likely the teams or individual competitor has some sort of uniform to wear. Even if you consider hot dog eating a sport, you may find that they will occasionally wear a mustard stained t-shirt as their uniform.
In addition to the world having an ample supply of athletes, the world is also comprised of "spectators". Although the spectator may not be "on the team", they often wish they were. In addition to wishing that they were an official team mate, the fanatical sports fan also wishes to look like a one of the team players. To quench the thirst of the spectator, the apparel industry has graciously manufactured team apparel to be worn by athletic wannabee's of all shapes and sizes. Actually, if a sports enthusiast is so inclined, they can buy their favorite sports apparel in sizes all the way from toddler sizes up to 5XL (and possibly beyond). Are you wearing your favorite Team Jersey?
Here are some clothing categories that are typically worn when embracing recreational sports activities.
Shorts - running shorts, sports
shorts, swim shorts... Actually, any type of short
is perfect for a hot day. As a matter of fact, as far
as we are concerned jogging in
daisy dukes is acceptable (please
note, it is NOT acceptable for all people... I hope you
understand)
T-shirts - if you are not in an official sports uniform
and you are planning a casual spat at athleticism, we
strongly suggest a t-shirt (unless you
are playing winter or cold weather sports).
Sports Bras - most appropriate when worn by women.
If you are a women, you understand why these should be
worn. If you a man and have questions, please ask
a women.
Sweat Suits - the world consists of many different types
of
suits, but if you are looking for a suit that is
relevant to sports, you should look no further then a
sweatsuit (a combination of Sweat Pants and Sweat
Shirts). A sweat suit is typically worn so you can
stay warm, sweat, and get tired running around and doing
exercise...
Warm-ups - warm up suits are
essentially the same as sweat suits. See the
above. We do not wish to repeat ourselves...
Hats - baseball hats are not only worn for baseball.
You can find baseball style hats for the MLB, MLS, NFL,
WNBA, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, NCAA etc. Another type of
sports hat is called a helmet. We suggest wearing
them when biking, playing football, playing hockey,
roller blading, etc. Any sport that heightens your
risk of head trauma, you should definitely wear a
helmet. Speaking of trauma, you should also always
were an athletic supporter to help avoid injury during
sporting activities.
Swimwear - swimwear is acceptable for outdoor volleyball, water polo, and obviously swimming. If you plan to go for a bike ride or for a swift jog around the block, please do not wear swimwear... That is just silly. Please wear shorts or sweatpants like a normal person.
How about footwear? Isn't that important? Don't worry, I have not forgotten about athletic footwear. I fully understand that when writing an article about sports apparel, it would be rude of me to not mention sneakers, cleats, turf shoes etc. If you want to learn more about athletic footwear, you should check out some of the large shoe companies such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc. Yes, I understand that these companies have grown well beyond simply shoes.. Actually, if you wish to learn more about footwear, you can check out the shoe network.
When searching for sports apparel you can also investigate companies such as Russell Athletic, Under Armour etc. You will be able to find clothing from these companies and others at retailers such as Dick's Sporting Goods, or the Sports Authority.
Are you wearing your favorite sports team jersey?
Written by ML at Apparel Search January 3rd, 2008
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As a professional garmento (and someone from New Jersey), it is my personal opinion that the best sports apparel to own is product that indicates that you are a Yankee fan... Actually, team apparel from the Giants, Rangers, Devils, or Islanders all meet the Apparel Search dress code ...
You really should get a team jersey for your favorite team:
You can search for sports uniforms in the following categories and more.
- judo uniforms
- karate uniforms
- soccer uniforms
- shin guards
- baseball pants
- baseball shirts
- softball pants
- softball shirts
- football uniforms
- football helmets
- football pads
- cheerleader uniforms
- hockey uniforms
- baseball hats
- basketball shorts
- basketball shirts
- sweat bands
- jock straps
- biking shorts
Learn more about Under Armour.
Performance Clothing and Fan Clothing
Sports apparel is really two markets sharing one vocabulary. The performance side is built around the activity: a uniform identifies the team, a sports bra supports the athlete, a sweat suit keeps muscles warm before and after exertion, and cleats or turf shoes match the playing surface. Fit and function decide these purchases, and sizing runs to the needs of the sport itself. The fan side is built around identity: the same jersey, cap or team colors worn in the stands or on the street announce allegiance rather than participation, which is why fan apparel is sold in the full run of consumer sizes, from toddler sizes up to 5XL.
The two sides continually borrow from each other. Athletic cuts, moisture-minded fabrics and team graphics move into everyday dress — the overlap the athleisure and fitness fashion pages describe — while fan demand for authentic detail pulls replica jerseys closer to what players actually wear. Either way, the category stays anchored to the sports themselves: name the sport, and there is almost certainly a uniform for the competitor and a version of it for the spectator.
Common Questions
What counts as sports apparel?
Clothing worn for athletic competition — uniforms, jerseys, shorts, t-shirts, sports bras, sweat suits and warm-ups — plus the protective and sport-specific pieces such as helmets and swimwear, athletic footwear, and the team apparel fans wear to show support.
What is the difference between a sports uniform and team apparel?
A sports uniform is what the team itself wears to play: matching kit that identifies the side, from baseball and soccer uniforms to karate and rugby uniforms. Team apparel is the fan version of the same identity — jerseys, caps and logo clothing sold to spectators in sizes from toddler up to 5XL and beyond.
Why do sports hats include helmets?
Because headgear does two jobs in sport. Baseball-style caps for leagues such as MLB, MLS, NFL, WNBA, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and NCAA are fan and player staples, while helmets are protective equipment recommended for biking, football, hockey and roller blading — any sport with a heightened risk of head trauma.