Sports teams in the United States usually have rich histories even if they are not the most decorated franchises. The apparel throughout different teams stands out no matter where someone goes. Professional and college clubs have their unique looks that fans proudly wear on gamedays and in the offseason as well. Unique and vintage sports clothing have become a hot commodity in the vintage world over the past few decades.
Sports in America contribute a major portion of revenue and excitement to countless cities’ economies and atmospheres. The winning programs hold themselves to a higher regard than their counterparts for various reasons. Vintage clothing has always been sought after; dedicated sports fans are extremely attracted to their team’s throwback colors and concepts for nostalgic and sentimental reasons.
Throwback Jerseys
Everyone knows how much influence hip-hop and rap have on certain industries. A clean throwback jersey has been a staple in streetwear and vintage communities for a while now.
Currently, the hype has died down compared to what it was in the early to late 2000s. However, sports fans still cherish a pristine throwback of their favorite team. Nobody can recreate or make authentic versions anymore. Sports enthusiasts tend to appreciate throwbacks for nostalgic reasons while others admire them for pure looks and unique colorways.
Whether or not someone is a die hard fan, most people who don’t live under a rock can recognize jerseys of major sports teams in the United States. Sports cross over into fashion effortlessly. Throwback jerseys bring out the best of a fit when pieced together correctly.
Anyone can rock a throwback; they are not reserved for dedicated fans (although the majority of people wearing a jersey will be a fan of some sort). Unique and vintage sports clothing does not stop with throwbacks. There are endless possibilities of mixing fashion and sports together.
Vintage Sports Tees
The most common clothing piece in the vintage world is without a doubt the classic t shirt. There are countless different cuts/fits, materials, colorways, and concepts that shirts consist of.
Especially in streetwear, vintage t shirts are a staple constantly found in endless wardrobes. From secondhand and thrift stores to buy/sell/trade shops, there is an abundance of unique and vintage sports clothing throughout the U.S. Sports enthusiasts flock to stores to find exclusive and nostalgic items; vintage clothing has always been popular, but now it is more mainstream than ever.
Vintage clothing particularly in the sports realm tells stories and brings back memories. A vintage sports t shirt of someone’s favorite team often holds more sentimental value than other (and typically more expensive) pieces of clothing.
Vintage shirts have character and highlight ideas, times, and historical moments that a brand new tee cannot replicate. Authenticity without a doubt is one of the most intriguing characteristics of vintage clothing. Contemporary pieces will never be able to duplicate a true vintage look, feel, and history.
Vintage Clones
In the streetwear world, there has been a noticeable rise of “vintage” shirts that are truly not vintage at all. Although they may have vintage designs and/or graphics, the contemporary tees do not offer as much substance as a twenty plus year old t shirt. Vintage looks are hot and will remain on top for years to come. The washed and “aged” trend is another example of brands attempting to recreate new vintage pieces.
Although sports is a small sector of vintage clothing, the vintage sports look has seen a significant increase in the recent past. More brands are putting their own twist on throwback colors and team concepts than ever before.
Vintage enthusiasts should not take the vintage trend as a sign of disrespect. The old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Streetwear labels are showing how influential vintage sports clothing truly is by replicating authentic vintage with premium materials and modern cuts/fits.
The Future of Vintage Sports Clothing
The vintage clothing industry surely has no signs of slowing down anytime in the foreseeable future. Reasonably priced unique shirts, hats, pants, and jackets keep enthusiasts and casual wearers coming back for more time and time again. Unique and vintage sports clothing is one particular niche of vintage that might never die out completely for multiple reasons.
First, sports will always be a major aspect of American culture. Countless sports teams and players effortlessly influence fashion, hip-hop/rap, and streetwear. People everywhere are surrounded by sports or the direct/indirect influence of sports.
Also, vintage clothing keeps evolving as sports do as well. Trends in both come and go but classics and timeless aspects will always remain over the years. As sports progress, so will uniforms and team apparel. The current look of sports teams colors and logos will eventually be vintage one day.
Lastly, the vintage community tends to flock to sports as one of its top subcategories. It is easy to have vintage pieces come from apparel of teams that have been in existence for multiple decades and more to come. Sports and vintage clothing both are not going anywhere due to their proven popularity among the masses and track records of substantial longevity.
