Parachute pants

Fashion Synopsis

“Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto...
You're wondering who I am, machine or mannequin
With parts made in Japan, I am the modern man…”

The mechanical moves of the ‘robot’ helped create the breakdancing world, and parachute pants saved street fashion from a life of sweatpants. Was anyone really going to jump out of an airplane in 8th grade? Probably not, but in your rad new pair of nylon, multi-zip parachute pants, you were ready for anything—especially an impromptu breakin’ session out on the playground after lunch.

Bugle Boy created this zipper-frenzied pant as a variation of the nylon track pant in the early 80's. Denim was dying, and the new trend of breakdancing required something cool and comfortable. Bugle Boy and another company, Panno D’or, share the prestige of being one of the first companies to manufacture and distribute the slick and noisy pants specifically for the new market.

Parachute pants were slim-legged nylon pants with zippers along the legs and at the ankles. Some had front zippers down the entire front or sides that could be opened up to reveal a cotton lining underneath. More fashion than function, nothing beat the slick sound of nylon swooshing leg against leg. Breakdancers quickly adopted the pant because of its fresh zippered style and the slickness of the material. The slippery nylon helped you spin and worm across the floor.

So don’t be a neo-maxi-zoom dweebie…go get yourself some parachute pants and trade in your Styx album for some Grandmaster Flash.