The Sweatsuit: A Short History of the Most Comfortable Thing You Own

The matching sweatsuit is proof that comfort, done right, is a form of luxury.

From the track to everyday life

The warm-up suit began as something athletes pulled on over their competition kit and stripped off before the gun. An early matching "sunday suit" appeared in 1939, but the set became a cultural force in the late 1960s, just as the 1970s jogging boom swept the suburbs. Suddenly ordinary people could look like their athletic idols as they pounded the pavement. Plush velour made it a fashion statement, and the sweatsuit moved from the track to the street to the sofa — adopted by musicians, dancers, and anyone who understood that ease is its own kind of style.

The through-line

Underneath every version is the same idea: freedom of movement and unbothered comfort. The set flexes — dressed up or down, worn to travel, to lounge, to move. It asks nothing of you and gives back everything.

What makes a great set

Match the fabric to the life you actually live. Heavyweight terry has a structure and warmth that thin fleece can't touch; the cut should be relaxed without going sloppy; the drawstring and ribbing should actually hold. And when the top and bottom are dyed in the same custom color, you get a true set — the most reach-for-it thing in the closet.

The Black Bear Brand take

We build the sweatsuit as an heirloom, not an afterthought. Our Ultimate 30 oz. Terry line pairs a hoody or crew with matching pants (and shorts when the weather turns) — all in the same heavy 30 oz. terry, cut and sewn in Seattle, vintage stitch throughout, and garment-dyed in our own colors so the top and bottom match exactly. Josh designed them as the sweats he'd wear nearly every day, from Tokyo hotels to Montana cabins to the sand in Malibu. For a lighter weight, we also make a 20 oz. terry crew in Japan.

Build your set. Shop the Ultimate 30oz Terry Hoody, Crew, and Pants, or browse the full Black Bear Brand store.