Old Style, The Way Basketball Uniforms Were

source: http://www.ymca.int/who-we-are/history/basketball-a-ymca-invention/

When the sport began people played in the clothes they could spare. Many early era uniforms were made of wool. They had terrible combinations of articles and garments that seemed to be restrictive by design. It could not have been very comfortable to play basketball at this point in time. Imagine getting hot and sweaty inside of pants and long sleeve shirts, it happened! Believe it but who would instigate this kind of torture? At the time only natural fibers were available to make clothing from, so cotton and wool reigned supreme. Even though the textile industry was booming, man made fabrics had not yet been synthesized. Players would have to endure the less than ideal conditions in those initial years but hey, no pain, no gain. Aren’t you glad that you didn’t manage a gym back then?

Luckily by the 1920′s people got wise and started wearing shorts and a jersey style top. Movement was better and sweat could at last get off the skin with out total insulation, It was an improvement. After World War II synthetics were made available for every day commercial uses and soon found their way in to sporting uniforms. Further more, in this time machines began to be integrated in the garment making process like never before. Designs began to change rapidly. More skin got exposed as shorts got shorter as well as tighter, this trend also went for jerseys. Stylistically these new fabrics allowed for snappier looking designs. Before long it both the basketball players and the cheerleaders were wearing about the same amount of cloth. This kept up until much later in the century when the style reversed. Uniforms became bigger, they weren’t sitting against the skin at all times. These new changes were mostly player driven and not the result of technology or garment developments.

Modern Uniforms, What They Are Made Of and Why

The development of basketball uniforms over the years has seen many changes. They have been augmented significantly since the early days. Most notably are the materials that make up the garment itself. In fact, many changes are not only about the fabric but the over all style of uniforms that players wore on to the court. They have gone through a number of transitions through out the years. If you compare a picture of players from the early days of basketball to the present era you might even wonder if they are dressed to play the same sport. It that radical of a change over time!

In today’s uniforms we find state of the art fabric technology. Fully synthetic knits that are designed from the beginning to produce a superior look and feel. Plus they look really cool during high flying dunks. Fabrics such as Lycra and Dazzle are the standard in today’s sporting uniforms. They help moderate the body’s temperature better by getting sweat away from the skin or insulating against the environmental differences. Blends that incorporate a few different fibers are also popular. Nylon, polyester and even cotton still find regular use within the clothes that are currently worn by your favorite sports stars. Each fabric has benefits and applications that are unique, it is up to designers to great excellent products.

The loose fitting and flexible fabrics that make up today’s uniforms allow for a free range of motion. Basketball players move around a lot on the court. They must be able to position their arms and legs in any way that the moment requires. Not only for offense and defense but also self preservation. Basketball games are fast paced with huge people colliding on a daily basis. The athletes need to be able to control and maintain all the aspects of their performance and uniforms are a variable. We want them at their best so they should be dressed in the best.

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Basketball uniforms of today are high tech marketing merchandise but this was not always the case. Before the garments in use today became the norm, vastly different uniforms were put into play by the first organized teams. In the 1920′s tailors and seamstresses did not have access to the same materials we do today. That is because they did not exist yet. They were forced to make due with what they could. Players also had to make due with what they had access to and in some cases it was not much. This article is an examination of the basketball uniforms worn by players in the early days of organized basketball, when it was still in its infancy and styles were wild.

The Way Things Were

Before the era of throwback basketball uniforms was: the real thing. Yes, its true. There have been some big changes in uniform development over the years but it all started in 1920′s when the game and what people wore was properly formalizing into what would become the practices and organizations we know today. The art of design is today respected highly, particularly in fashion circles. In the roaring 20′s style was beginning to blossom in clothing, architecture and automobiles. At this time materials were still stuck with sources from the natural world, meaning plants and animal based fabrics such as wool and cotton. Incredible advances were around the corner but nylon and polyester were not yet available for use.

image source: http://conversnation.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/1920s-to-the-21st-century/

This is the era that established Chuck Taylor’s popularity, we still see Converse shoes with his name on retail shelves today. It is also when jerseys buttoned under the crotch to secure them and ensure they would not come loose during the course of the game. Really, all the clothes were fairly form fitting. Baggy styles had not caught on yet.

It was also not uncommon to see children or women in knee pads, so as to protect their fragile legs. Get off the court if you can’t hang. Considering what everyone was wearing in earlier years, in terms of material and some of the crazier get ups, they might as well have been gladiators. The 1920′s had to be a blessing for basketball enthusiasts. Finally, everything was set and the sport could get some respect.

…And How It Is Now

Things have come a long way since the days of when uniforms were made of heavier material and fabrics like wool or cotton. These newer clothes are light to wear and help to get sweat off the players body. No one likes playing B-ball sweaty. Jerseys and shorts have a looser fit in the modern era. It is a result of style evolution as well as technology.

Comparatively, basketball uniforms of today require far less heavy maintenance, in laundering terms, and are far more durable and can handle the wear and tear as well as the wash cycle. That is because many use a modern fabric known as Dazzle. It is a type of polyester that has really caught on and can be seen in use by football and rugby players. It has even begun to find use in casual wear. Additionally, the material looks great. It is shiny and bright, you might even say dazzling! Whether you are sitting court side or taking in a game at home on your HD TV, the uniforms look sharp. The designs are awesome and the material really stands out. Thanks to those putting the schemes together they are visually interesting while keeping our favorite teams comfortable on the court.

Styles have changed dramatically over the years as people’s preferences have evolved but also as technology has come along and allowed for developments in the garment industry at large. There is no doubt the future holds new breakthroughs in that field and we will see it on the courts and fields of our favorite home teams.

Have you ever looked at a basketball uniform and wondered how the style became what it is today? Or maybe you remember the old designs and just want to reminisce? Either way, read on because we are going to take a look at the evolution of the basketball uniform. From its early developmental days as a gymnasium sport to its current style inside the arenas of today. The general scheme has been the same, though alterations have lead to more fabric in some places with other regions losing coverage. This article will act as a compendium and guide to the biggest changes and trends in basketball uniforms through out the years the game has been played.

The Early Days of Sport

source: http://www.getkempt.com/this-sporting-life/the-basketball-uniform-an-evolution.php

Who wants to run up and down a basketball court wearing a uniform that has grown sweaty from activity and is restrictive by the tailors orders, raise your hands? If you played basketball back in the late 1800′s around the turn of the century this is pretty close to the deal. Wool jerseys, trousers. Get in there, buddy. It is likely the sport would be far less popular in warm weather areas if things had continued this way for long, though it might have been a real contender for hockey’s supremacy in the cold weather countries.

A little later on things began to loosen up some. The introduction of shorts had to be a welcome presence in players locker rooms, though some still made due with pants. There are a few existing photos of teams posing in turtlenecks, if not playing in them, around the early 20th century.

Formative Years: A Proper Style Emerges

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As basketball emerged from obscurity to popularity the rules and uniforms that players wore began to standardize. Organizations became more formal and regulated what was acceptable for those in the leagues to wear while playing. Savvy companies began to pluck talent from teams to endorse their products. One such product is still on the shelves today. The “Chuck Taylor” Converse All-star has been going strong since 1917 when he was on the team demonstrating the new sport around the country. These shoes have transcended the sport and have a sense of style to themselves. Wearers make a fashion statement just by wearing the shoes and being associated with the brand.

Short pants became the norm in this period. No more covering up. It seems during the 1920′s people wanted to get hot and bothered off the court. Can’t blame them, booze was illegal in that era due to prohibition. Through it all basketball was spreading. Leagues at all levels were sprouting across America. The NCAA organized its first national championship in 1938 and the NBA formed in 1946. Sleeveless jerseys and thigh high shorts became the norm.

Post-War Era: New Materials at Play

source: http://apbrbasketball.blogspot.com/2011/02/uniforms-of-70s.html

Technology that had been utilized for the war effort in the 1940′s soon found its way into other industrial purposes. Facilities that had been producing materials out of fabrics made of nylon or polyester began to convert their operations to peace time goods as the Baby Boomer population was exploding.

The nature of the game truly requires not only material that breathes but also ones that allow a full range of motion for the players. Uniforms began to get tighter and more form fitting reaching points that seem almost exhibitionist, should a person be at the wrong angle. Woe was the floor based photographer in this time period. Right on through the 1970′s and into 80′s short shorts kept creeping up the the players legs.

Reversal: Extending Uniform Coverage

source: http://www.pitt.edu/~mtb32/cs134/history.html

The Michigan Wolverines players in the early 90′s known as the Fab Five, a group comprised of Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Ray Jackson and Juwan Howard popularized the style of wearing baggy shorts and black socks. The squad ended the season as the Runner Up in the NCAA Tournament in 1992 and 1993, pretty good run though the successes were later vacated by the Ed Martin scandal. In the NBA, baggy shorts began to catch on as well. Michael Jordan was one of the first at the level to mimic the style. This was a rungs lower than previous generations, as player’s gym shorts got longer and covered more of their thigh. These are the major trends you have seen since the 1990′s, more accessories, longer shorts, shorter socks.

Before long nearly everyone was wearing the baggy style and knees were seen no more. Things may have gone too far or perhaps David Stern and the league office just wanted to collect fines. They levied fines against a players like Jameer Nelson and Jamal Tinsley for the excessive length of their in game shorts during the the 2005 season.

Today, Uniforms Are Custom

The style of basketball uniforms has changed so much over the years, and new trends will continue to evolve. Today, you can order custom made basketball uniforms for your school team or recreational league. You can have your uniforms created exactly how you want them to create the exact look that you’re going for. They also need to be functional and comfortable while creating the look you want.

Accessorizing and Identity

source: http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/nba/allen-iverson-net-worth/

This would not be a thorough document if it did not mention the many ways players accessorize their garments choices and supplement their style with equipment. There are photos of players wearing knee pads back in the 1920′s; the game must have been rough on the courts back then. Additional protective components have been utilized through out basketball’s history. Many players use arm sleeves such as Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant, both of which were at times notable for their hair styles as well. Other players accessorize with a combination of sweat bands. LeBron James has been known to wear one on his head for most of his career.