Hello readers,
Talking about the jogger pants trend that's booming in our beloved country, it was actually popular in North America about five years ago. Originally, jogger pants were designed for those who enjoyed exercise, especially jogging. However, in today's generation, jogger pants have evolved into a staple for lifestyle wear.
Recently, the latest designs of jogger pants have given men more options, making them look less basic and cooler when worn. This allows for more freedom of movement and gives them the chance to show off their shoes or footwear in a clean way. As running shoes or sports footwear improve, jogger pants are the second thing that comes to mind for consumers. Yes, they seem inseparable.
Unless you've been living in a cave for the past five years, eating bugs for protein and washing in a muddy river, you must have noticed that men's fashion, as we know it, has undergone a pretty fundamental transformation.
Tailoring has become more relaxed, men's dress codes have blurred, and the rise of athleisure has left nightclub bouncers around the world scratching their large, round, boiled ham-like heads in confusion at the possibility of having to revise their "no trainers" policies.
Joggers are one of the key items leading the charge during this crucial era in men's fashion, and as men’s fashion mavericks continue to experiment with them, joggers have become more entrenched in the modern male wardrobe.
The combination of blazers, jogger pants, and dress shoes was once a style reserved for old men sitting on park benches, drinking cans, and yelling at pigeons. But lately, you're more likely to see a similar look gracing the men in the front row of fashion week—though styled with a bit more panache.
And while the elitists may turn up their noses, scoff, and dismiss joggers as a passing fad, remember that people with similar mindsets once said jeans wouldn’t last long, and that The Beatles were poisoning the minds of the youth. History tends to prove them wrong.
Believe it or not, running as a form of voluntary exercise originated in Ancient Greece, but it spread after the modern Olympics were reintroduced in 1896, and even more after the running boom of the 1970s. But after decades of training in stiff clothing, it was clear that something had to change, and for a Frenchman, the solution was obvious.
Mile Camuset was no ordinary Frenchman; he was the man who founded the world-renowned sportswear label Le Coq Sportif—which, FYI, translates to “athletic rooster”—and understandably, he’d had enough of sweating on the track with whatever complicated footwear men were using at the time.
After some experimentation with materials and cuts, the classic jersey jogger we all know and love was born.
However, while joggers were originally built with a strong purpose in mind, today they are much more than that. Like jeans and trousers before them, there are now many styles and shapes to consider.
Jogger pants, which quickly became a trend in women’s casual wear, started in the men’s sector as cinched chino pants. Although the type of joggers can now be found everywhere, Michael Huynh of Publish Brand is the designated creator of the style and actually holds the trademark for "jogger pants."
The concept stemmed from a desire for "cooler" sweatpants in 2009. Huynh and his team had a design sent overseas for production in black, heather, maroon, and navy. The samples that returned from the factory were surprising. Instead of being made from brushed fleece, the joggers were made from stretch twill. Huynh realized they had stumbled upon gold by accident. Men, unlike women, could only wear a few silhouettes, so this new design was truly different, he thought.
Realizing that something had to change, Huynh launched a photo campaign featuring the joggers in a masculine and luxurious light. This method attracted a group of fashion-forward consumers, but the general consumer remained unconvinced. They needed to see that these new pants were an accessible style. To convert them, the first catalog "trained" consumers on how to wear joggers with trendy shoes, including Nike Huaraches and Adidas Stan Smiths. Sales immediately surged, so the marketing continued, aiming to depict joggers as an everyday casual item that people would eventually adapt to.
Jogger pants have become a big hit in the past year, but only a small percentage of men are comfortable wearing them. As more stores sell joggers, this percentage could increase as the silhouette becomes more normalized. Huynh’s game plan is to enjoy the popularity boost from imitation designs, and then market the idea that they did it first. As the originator, Huynh sees it as Publish Brand's mission to make jogger pants a staple.
In the end, it’s the consumers who will decide whether the style will last another season or not, but the functionality and variety of jogger pants lead to the belief that this is not just a passing trend.