Skaters wear baggy clothing for comfort, movement and protection. Skateboarding needs a wide range of motion, and baggy clothing is less restrictive than tighter fits. Skateboarding involves frequent falling, and clothing offers protection when you wipe out. Baggy clothes were popular with early skateboarders, and the style has become associated with the scene.
When skateboarding originated, clothing was chosen for practicality and comfort. Oversized fits were favoured to avoid inhibiting range of movement. Tough, hardwearing fabrics were ideal for coping with the many scrapes and skids along the ground.
As skate brands began to rise in popularity, graphic tees and hoodies were easy to print up and sell, becoming the look of choice for skaters. Ripped jeans from multiple falls started to become a trend rather than a consequence of wiping out.
As the skating subculture grew, these styles began to influence the wider fashion world. Today, the baggy skater style is popular outside the skateboarding culture. Brands commonly associated with skateboarding, such as Vans, began to be adopted by a wider cross-section of society. Over the last five decades, the distinctive Vans style has become an iconic look around the world.
