Zubaz
Encyclopedia
Zubaz (ˈzuːbæz ) is a brand of shorts and pants that became popular during the early 1990s. They were created in 1988 by two professional wrestlers, the Road Warriors
, as a comfortable, functional short for weightlifting
.
They hoped to make a short that would stretch and expand with the body during a workout. In a short time, the shorts became wildly popular in the United States
. The Zubaz company sold $100 million worth of products in 1991 alone. The company slogan was "Dare to be Different."
Although Zubaz began as a line of shorts, the brand was extended into long pants, caps, shirts, and even diapers. The pants are tapered at the ankle, with the outer part of the leg being longer than the inner part. They have an elastic
waistband to allow for greater flexibility
and movement. The pants were originally created in a zebra print, but later began to be sold in almost any design imaginable.
Regardless of the specific design, Zubaz are almost always bright, flashy, and often ostentatious. Zubaz designed the uniforms of several Arena Football League teams in the early 1990s, including the Tampa Bay Storm
and the now-defunct New Orleans Night
. However, these designs were considered outlandish and were soon replaced.
In a 1993 survey in Inside Sports
magazine, Zubaz finished third in the voting for Worst Thing to Happen in Sports that year. Ahead of it were the retirement of Michael Jordan
and the death of wrestler Dino Bravo
.
The long pants were the most popular item in the product line. Despite the decline of its popularity, it is not uncommon to spot a rabid fan wearing Zubaz pants at a professional football
game, usually bearing the same colors of the team he/she is rooting for.
Zubaz manufactured "slider shorts." These shorts had the famous wild patterns at the bottom of the garment while the rest of the garment displayed the name and logo of the sport team and the Zubaz name.
The original business went bankrupt in 1996 and Truax and Stock bought back the trademark rights. In 2007, Zubaz resurfaced, offering a limited production release of the original classic Zubaz patterns.
In another sign of the resurrection of the Zubaz brand, on July 16, 2008 the Saint Paul Saints independent professional baseball team wore Zubaz pants during their game against the Sioux City Explorers
. The bases were also painted in a recognizable Zubaz tiger-striped pattern.
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
, as a comfortable, functional short for weightlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
.
They hoped to make a short that would stretch and expand with the body during a workout. In a short time, the shorts became wildly popular in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Zubaz company sold $100 million worth of products in 1991 alone. The company slogan was "Dare to be Different."
Although Zubaz began as a line of shorts, the brand was extended into long pants, caps, shirts, and even diapers. The pants are tapered at the ankle, with the outer part of the leg being longer than the inner part. They have an elastic
Elastomer
An elastomer is a polymer with the property of viscoelasticity , generally having notably low Young's modulus and high yield strain compared with other materials. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, although the latter is preferred...
waistband to allow for greater flexibility
Flexibility (anatomy)
Flexibility or limberness refers to the absolute range of movement in a joint or series of joints, and length in muscles that cross the joints. Flexibility is variable between individuals, particularly in terms of differences in muscle length of multi-joint muscles...
and movement. The pants were originally created in a zebra print, but later began to be sold in almost any design imaginable.
Regardless of the specific design, Zubaz are almost always bright, flashy, and often ostentatious. Zubaz designed the uniforms of several Arena Football League teams in the early 1990s, including the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
and the now-defunct New Orleans Night
New Orleans Night
The New Orleans Night was an Arena Football League team that competed in the 1991 and 1992 AFL seasons and were based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team was officially announced at a press conference on March 18, 1991...
. However, these designs were considered outlandish and were soon replaced.
In a 1993 survey in Inside Sports
Inside Sports
Inside Sports magazine was a major general interest sports magazine in the United States. Launched in 1979 by Newsweek, it was designed as an edgier, monthly alternative to the longer-running Sports Illustrated and SPORT Magazine brands...
magazine, Zubaz finished third in the voting for Worst Thing to Happen in Sports that year. Ahead of it were the retirement of Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and the death of wrestler Dino Bravo
Dino Bravo
Adolfo Bresciano was an Italian-born Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his work as Dino Bravo, self-proclaimed as "Canada's Strongest Man".-Territories:...
.
The long pants were the most popular item in the product line. Despite the decline of its popularity, it is not uncommon to spot a rabid fan wearing Zubaz pants at a professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game, usually bearing the same colors of the team he/she is rooting for.
Zubaz manufactured "slider shorts." These shorts had the famous wild patterns at the bottom of the garment while the rest of the garment displayed the name and logo of the sport team and the Zubaz name.
The original business went bankrupt in 1996 and Truax and Stock bought back the trademark rights. In 2007, Zubaz resurfaced, offering a limited production release of the original classic Zubaz patterns.
In another sign of the resurrection of the Zubaz brand, on July 16, 2008 the Saint Paul Saints independent professional baseball team wore Zubaz pants during their game against the Sioux City Explorers
Sioux City Explorers
The Sioux City Explorers are a professional baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.They were originally to be...
. The bases were also painted in a recognizable Zubaz tiger-striped pattern.