Cheerleading is a team activity. Various dance moves, gymnastics, and acrobatics are systematically mixed to make an attractive routine cheerleading. The cheer squad shouts slogans to back up their team in the ongoing sporting event. Their cheers and moves boost the sports spirits in spectators and coax them to cheer louder for their favorite team. Cheerleading is based on the idea that louder cheers encourage a team and thereby enhance team performance. In light of its role in team sports, cheerleading is now an individual sport. Clubs and institutions hold cheer competitions annually, and teams participate in significant trophies and prizes. The uniform is a big part of cheerleading. The article will take you through decades when cheer uniforms evolved and changed according to the advancement of the activity and took their current bolder and more creative form.

Cheerleading uniforms: Then

Cheerleading dates back to the 1860s. Originating from Great Britain, it reached the US around the 1980s. While cheerleading now comes under the umbrella of women's sports, the credit for this invention goes to men. The idea emerged at Princeton University. Since then, cheerleading is evolving in every aspect. Cute and charming uniforms also come to mind when we talk about the women-oriented version of cheerleading.

Back in the 1900s, cheerleading uniforms were simple. The core focus of the uniforms was to represent the school team. Sweaters or cardigans made the top of the uniform, with a school logo and initials usually embroidered on them. The sweaters used to have buttoned-down shirts under them. Saddle shoes were the trend of that time, so cheerleaders also adopted them as their footwear. The problem with the uniform was that it was too bulky to allow easy movement. Since cheerleading is all about brisk movements, cheerleaders started looking for a suitable alternative.

In the 1960s, cheerleading uniforms ended up with crew necks, and short-sleeve sweaters replacing long and collared cardigans. The teams removed undershirts to be more comfortable in their uniforms. These sleeker than-before sweaters also had school emblems sewn into them. Pleated short skirts replaced bulky ones. Sandals and tennis shoes became footwear. Overall, the designers revamped the uniforms in the 1960s to allow freedom in movements. The 1970s brought fabrics that were more suitable for athletic wear. Moreover, the decade also witnessed massive style changes in all aspects of the fashion realm. The same happened with cheerleading uniforms. The skirts became shorter and the tops tighter. NFL teams, for instance, the Dallas Cowboys, took bolder steps and introduced their cheerleaders in tops that were short enough to show off the midriff.  The lower part of the uniform was tiny shorts with white boots. It was a go-ahead for all the other squads to progress towards bolder uniforms with less coverage. The next decade did not bring many changes to cheerleading uniforms. However, high white socks and soft Nike tennis shoes with a swirl of color became the norm for several squads. Other than that, no major changes were seen in cheerleading uniforms.

The 1990s again brought a swoosh of colors and styles in cheerleading fashion. A variety of fonts are made for logos, taglines, and emblems on uniforms. Several competition teams started to add fitted turtlenecks under the uniforms. Reebok tennis shoes replaced white keds, and colored socks matching with megaphones replaced the high white socks. Knife-pleated skirts and hairstyles with tight ringlets became the new fashion statement for cheerleaders. However, it was the 2000s that brought drastic changes to cheerleading uniforms. The change of century transformed the entire cheerleading culture into the glamorous form that we see in current sports events.

Cheerleading uniforms: Now

As cheerleading routines advanced to highly creative stunts, complex tumbles, and intricate dance steps, the uniforms shifted their shape to accommodate the moves. Stretchable materials such as spandex, jerseys, and polyester became common in cheerleading tops. Metallic colors and animal prints made their place in the new uniforms. Besides the material, the designs also became more creative. Rhinestones and sublimated fabrics entered the scene to embolden the designs. Uniforms became more flashy to welcome the new century cheerleading. The display of the midriff by wearing cropped tops became a norm of the sport. Shoes started to become as light as possible to support the complex tumblings.

After 2010, the cheerleading routines shot up to touch the sky. Cheerleading became more prominent on the game fields. Uniforms had to advance accordingly. Rhinestones, stretchy materials, and innovative logo designs were the norm by then. Deeper necklines, shoulder cut-outs, and backless became the rage. Tops began to get as fit as possible, while skirts became extremely short. Several cheerleading squads started preferring short and tight skirts. Bows became big, turned upside down, and tails facing the spectators.

Coming to the current era, cheerleading uniforms are now made with motion flex material. Sublimated prints design the tops, and you can print anything with this technology. Rhinestones are still everywhere. The midriff area is using more and more mesh for a better form-fitting finish. Another new trend is competing with uniform tops tied up on tiny shorts or skirts.  Leggings are also becoming a new option. It is a creative epoch, and every uniform has a different look from the other.

The bottom line:

There is hardly any school or team that instills a dress code on the cheerleading teams. Therefore, the squads get as creative and bold as they can get. However, the authorities have made some protocols to impose on cheerleading squads according to their category and level, such as school, professional teams, etc. The guidelines for cheerleading uniforms entail that they must not be sexually provocating in design. The material should be safe enough to prevent wardrobe malfunctions during complex moves and stunts. Skirts should cover the entire front of the body and should start from the waist length. Cheerleaders must wear cheer briefs underneath their skirts. The logo and trademark of the manufacturer should not be more than 2.25 square inches in size because the team logo should be more prominent on the cheer uniforms. All in all, creativity is important to customize the uniforms, but if they are too much flashy, they will distract both the team and the audience. Cheerleading will lose its true purpose of bringing out the sports spirit and cheers from the crowd. Cheer uniforms are something that you can not compromise on in terms of quality or design. They need to be durable so the cheerleaders can perform their routines without the worry of tears or any other malfunction between the routines. The customization must be creative so the uniforms can present their team as effectively as possible. If you want to outfit your squad in well-designed and durable custom cheer uniforms, then find a vendor who can provide you with the right material and suitable customization services at reasonable prices.