From Ancient Origins to Modern Trends: Leggings Through Time

Be honest – how many pairs of leggings do you own? Probably a few. With all the exciting colours, patterns, and shapes it's just too hard to resist!

As Fabletics celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and discover the history of our absolute favourite item of clothing ever – leggings.

Who invented leggings?

The elastic, slim pants we call leggings were invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, then he’s the father of the stretchy, synthetic fabric called spandex, also known as lycra, which has revolutionised the fashion industry from the mid-20th century onward.

But, to be fair, leggings were around much, much earlier than that. In the pre-spandex era, of course, they were sewn from natural materials like wool and cotton. This might come as a surprise, but the earliest type of narrow, comfortable pants can be tracked down back to the 15th century.

Back then, a sock maker decided to crochet a lengthier sock, i.e., one that would go all the way to the thigh. To make it possible to move comfortably around, he decided to add a more loose part over the knee. The goal was to create a comfortable, durable bottom garment that would allow unrestricted movement and could be used by agricultural workers. While it might sound funny given how scarce it is to see men wear leggings today, they were exclusive to men for a very long time.

So, when did the world see the first leggings for women? Well, women had to wait a little longer for their first pair. They were brought to the market in the 1870s, as a more practical alternative to women’s traditional dresses and skirts. And, while very comfortable, it took many decades for women to relieve themselves of corsets and multi-layered clothing, and embrace slim pants as a staple item in their wardrobes.

Why were leggings invented?

Many of us love leggings because of how comfy they are to wear. And that was the main reason why they were invented in the first place. Before they became a fashion statement and a form of activewear, people used them for practical reasons. As, initially, they were made from wool and leather, they offered great leg protection while hunting, riding horses, and doing physical labour all the while keeping the legs warm.

Even after trousers entered the world of fashion, leggings still remained the preferred form of garment. Since they offered insulation, flexibility, and comfort, even children wore them while playing outside – especially in colder climates.

When did leggings become mainstream?

Leggings revolutionised ladies’ fashion just within a couple of years after spandex entered the market. The reason why they were so successful comes down not only to how practical they were, but also the direction in which women’s fashion progressed in the 1950s.

Think Audrey Hepburn’s slim, capri trousers that she sported in the cult “Roman Holiday'' and “Sabrina” movies. After the world war, women were ready to finally embrace comfortable pants, so skin-tight trousers were already in fashion.

Once Lycra was introduced on a global scale, women ditched the stiffer, shorter version of womens’ trousers in favour of leggings. The 1960s were a decade where pants also started coming in all sorts of colours and abstract patterns, breaking away from navy blue, white, and black pants. Many women chose to pair them with a mini skirt or dress, statement belt, and ballet flats (yes, for those of you who remember, this does sound very similar to women’s fashion in the mid- to late-2000s; hence, the circular nature of fashion!).

Then, in the 1970s, spandex leggings became a stand-alone item, especially after Olivia Newton-John wore her leather-looking pants in “Grease”.

It’s worth mentioning that, through all these years, the Lycra team kept refining their technology and experimented with other fabric blends. They introduced a nylon-spandex mix, which was shinier than cotton-spandex styles, and used predominantly as an activewear item.

In the 1980s the line between sportswear and daily fashion blurred, bringing leggings truly into the mainstream. This was a result of the fitness craze of the 1980s and early 1990s, when fitness icons for the likes of Jane Fonda brought the world of exercise – and, as a result, leggings – into the homes of millions of men and women.

Are leggings still cool?

Well, isn’t this topic a conversation starter!

If you popped this question among a group of friends, you’d likely hear as many ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers. Most of us could probably agree that, as far as women's fashion is concerned, wearing black leggings under your jeans skirt or jersey dress is passe. Male fashion has also had a ‘complicated’ relationship with leggings, with K-pop singers/influencers and brands like Marni trying to make them an ‘it’ streetstyle item within the last decade or so.

Truth be told though, leggings were never truly cancelled. We have simply stopped using cotton-blend, black, semi-see-through leggings in favour of other styles. They’re now a standalone item which isn’t worn to get a layered look. It’s more about choosing the ‘right’ type of leggings for the occasion – be it a laid-back, athleisure look or a more classic, dressy style.

In the summer, many women choose to wear colourful leggings with their favourite pair of trainers. While, in the winter, they tend to go for darker, thicker pants and pair them with biker boots or EMUs and UGGs.

As far as sports are concerned, we’re once again seeing vibrant, eye-popping leggings made from all types of fabrics, fits, and shapes. If you haven’t shopped for leggings in recent years, you’ll be surprised to see just how many options you have. Whether you’re looking for new yoga pants, a pair of UV-resistant trousers, or even an everyday pair, there’s a perfect style for you on the market.

What about male leggings, or base layer tights? We’re also seeing a revival, with more and more men wearing them to the gym or under shorts for cold weather runs! And Fabletics is proud to be at the forefront of this great comeback.

Making leggings history with Fabletics – 10 years of luxurious quality at an unbeatable price

When we established Fabletics, gym clothes were both expensive and boring. We’ve decided to change that by offering sportswear that is fashionable and comfortable, infused with bold colours and unique prints to make our customers feel their best whenever they wear it!

Everything we do revolves around our community. When they told us they wanted pockets in their leggings, we immediately brought this idea to life and it has become a huge success – 76 million pairs have been sold since we launched. Now all active brands are doing pockets.

If you look at the modern sportswear market you can find more variety than ever before, from sleek cycling shorts to wide leg joggers, but we’ll always have a special place reserved in our hearts for leggings.

This year marks our 10th anniversary in Europe, and we’re excited to continue bringing the world’s most fashionable, high-performance activewear at an accessible price, whether you’re hunting for the perfect pair of trendy scrunch bum leggings or sculpting yoga leggings. This has and always will be our mission.

Keep up to date with our birthday celebrations over on Instagram @fableticseu

From Ancient Origins to Modern Trends: Leggings Through Time

Who invented leggings?

Why were leggings invented?

When did leggings become mainstream?

Are leggings still cool?

Making leggings history with Fabletics – 10 years of luxurious quality at an unbeatable price

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