10 trends that changed sport
The lasting influence of sport on mainstream fashion began at the turn of the last century and has continued to increase throughout the last decade. Here are our top 10 picks.
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Fashion and sport collaboration
Collaborations between fashion and sportswear have hit new highs over the last decade. While crossovers have been important (and highly influential) in the past, designers such as Stella McCartney, Yohji Yamamoto and Kim Jones are now joining forces with sports giants to form successful multimillion dollar businesses that explore a previously untapped luxury sportswear market.
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World Cup highlightsDavid Beckham and Anna Kournikova
These two burst through the sports/fashion barrier in a way only a few stars have in the past. But unlike such crossover pioneers as René Lacoste or Fred Perry, they have become global icons as much for their off-duty fashion sense as what they wear on the pitch or court, blurring the boundaries between media image, sport and celebrity culture and making them worth millions to the brands they endorse.
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Decision-making technology
Video and computer technology is being used more and more in sport to reduce human error - think Hawk-Eye technology being used to make vital match-turning decisions in tennis - while adidas has even developed an intelligent football with goal-line technology.
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NaganoSnowboarding becomes an Olympic sport
Paving the way for others to follow - such as BMX in the Beijing 2008 Games - the addition of snowboarding to the Olympic roster introduced lifestyle sports and urban culture into top-level international sports.
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Olympic swimwearBodysuits
Bodysuits such as the Nike Swift Suit and the Speedo Fastskin enhanced muscle compression, reduced friction, and drove human performance to new heights.
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Nike extends Nike+ technology with new launchElectronics in sportswear
Advanced developments like the computerised adidas_1 shoe, which adjusts cushioning according to terrain, and the Nike+ iPod Sport, which transfers data on speed, distance and calories burned from the shoe to an iPod Nano, have helped athletes assess and improve performance.
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Umbro women's football kitUS women win the football World Cup
The victorious US team of 1999 drew record crowds and TV ratings, ramped-up the popularity of the sport in the US, and highlighted the participation of women in sport in other parts of the world.
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Trend track: technically refinedNintendo Wii Fit
Adding an extra dimension to interactive video games, Nintendo's Wii Fit changed the perception of exercise, while increasing the appeal of sports to non-traditional markets.
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Lance Armstrong
Armstrong changed the face of cycling by winning the Tour de France a total of seven consecutive times, but his public battle with cancer and the "Live Strong" message confirmed him as an international hero. If that wasn't enough, last month he confirmed his return to competitive cycling.
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Sustainable surfboard technologyEco-sport
The past decade has seen a sea-change in the approach to environmental issues in the sportswear industry. Performance and style aren't the only priorities. Now organic, recycled and renewable materials are all commonplace, as brands place an increasing emphasis on sustainability - with several even putting it at the heart of their strategy.
