NFL Zubaz Pants Return to the Top of Fashion

nfl zubaz pants

A decade after their last outing, zebra-striped Zubaz pants have risen from the bottom of closets to the top of fashion trends. The brazen statement pieces have been redesigned with sleek fabrics and modern features to accommodate today’s discerning fashionistas. They straddle the line between irreverent nostalgia and audacious avant-garde style, appealing to those with an unapologetically bold fashion sense.

Zubaz’s heyday was in the early 1990s, when the brand started by two Minnesota-based friends and weightlifting enthusiasts exploded in popularity. Originally marketed as athletic wear for wrestling and weightlifting, the baggy pants soon garnered a cult following among sports fans, becoming ubiquitous in football stadiums, gyms, and other sports venues. The pants were made of stretchy, elastic material and incorporated wild patterns. The zebra stripe was the most popular, although other colors and patterns were also available. During their peak, the company was generating $48 million in sales per week. The demand was so high that Zubaz founders Bob Truax and Dan Stock struggled to keep up. As a solution, Truax hired female inmates from nearby correctional facilities to sew the pants and other Zubaz apparel.

During the height of its popularity, Zubaz had licensing agreements with the NFL and other professional leagues. The brand also sold team-themed long and short pants, hats, and sweatshirts. Zubaz’s rise to popularity was catalyzed by its association with the Bills, who were frequent buyers and promoters of the pants. The team’s pro shop sells a thousand pairs of the pants each year, and even former Bills stars like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas have worn them.

Though the company fell out of favor in the late 1990s, its legacy was secured in 2023 when Adidas licensed the zebra-striped design for use on football cleats and gloves. Its reemergence in the mainstream fashion world has also been marked by partnerships with contemporary brands, including the latest installment of the Madden video game series.

In the new version of Madden 23, Zubaz will be featured as part of players’ custom-designed uniforms, with zebra-striped Zubaz shorts and long pants. This marks the first time that the iconic brand has been featured in a Madden video game, which is published by Electronic Arts EA -0.48%. In addition to nfl zubaz pants, the company has a large social media following and an active online community that engages with fans on a regular basis. Its active Facebook page has more than 220,000 followers and its Twitter account boasts nearly 15,000 followers. The company’s Instagram account is currently being revamped to add more photos of its products. The company also offers a mobile application that allows users to track inventory and order items directly from its website. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. The company’s website also offers free shipping on orders over $49. The site has a secure checkout that uses SSL encryption to protect user information. The company also provides a returns and exchange policy for its customers’ peace of mind.