What Are Parachute Pants?
Parachute pants were a part of a fashion trend in the 1980s. Breakdancers in urban areas needed pants that were roomy enough to allow them to perform their complicated dance moves. These innovative dancers also needed a strong fabric that would stand up to the rubbing and spinning they did on the ground during their dance routines. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Construction
-
Parachute pants were mostly constructed of nylon rip-stop material that was based on military-grade uniforms. Later, as the fad of parachute pants grew to the general public, parachute pants were made out of everything including satin, cotton and polyester.
Original Design
-
The original fit of parachute pants were more trim than the iconic baggy pants that most people would recognize as parachute pants. The skinnier version of these pants still had the tight ankle bottom to prevent the pants from riding up when the breakdancers performed their routines.
-
Music Industry
-
Parachute pants became an iconic uniform for the rapping and hip-hop community when parachute pants first came out. Artists like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice were known to wear these pants in their videos and public performances.
Decline of the Fad
-
The fad of parachute pants began to decline in the late 1980s. Like bell bottoms and other iconic fashion fads, as the fad of parachute pants began to climax, the chorus of people mocking parachute pants began to increase. Any rap artist who wore parachute pants during their performances was made fun of.
Designers
-
Some of the first designers of the parachute pant include Panno D'Or and Bugle Boy. In 2009, the parachute pant had a mild resurgence when high-end designer Proenza Schouler introduced parachute pants made of lightweight silk. Ravers have also brought back the trend of wearing parachute pants. Ravers of late night parties prefer the bagginess of parachute pants for comfort and free dancing.
-
