With pairs selling over £160 online, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to short nylon shorts
“Who likes short shorts? We like short shorts.” The iconic chorus to The Royal Teens’ 1957 hit “Short Shorts” which had an entire generation baring their thighs. The trend really took hold in the late seventies and early eighties with the rise of activewear bringing them into the daily routine. We’re all familiar with the iconic moustached, Afro-ed aerobic instructor in sweatbands, knee-high socks and a tight glistening pair of nylon shorts that left little to the imagination. While the sweatbands have thankfully been thrown on the trash heap of clothes that will never be making a comeback, the short short is BACK.
Take a stroll through East London on any sunny day and you’re sure to see throngs of homosexuals donning the draw-string shimmering short shorts. And why wouldn’t they? Men’s daywear rarely has sex on the agenda, but the short nylon short is a tasty exception. Clutching on to your butt cheeks and hugging your assets, they’re the male equivalent of the miniskirt. They tell prospective hook-ups that you’re up for anything, athletic and energetic. Paired with a jockstrap and it’s clear that you’re up for some mischief.
The obsession to grab an authentic pair of vintage short shorts has men forking out hundreds, with some pairs going for astonishing amounts. A few summers ago a pair of red vintage Adidas shorts with full white trim went for £189. Almost two hundred pounds to get that genuine pair of thigh-hugging running shorts. It seems like the there’s no price too high for that pair that’s guaranteed to catch someone’s eye while you’re catching some sun in the park.
To get to the bottom of why they’re so popular, we caught up with champion of tight sportswear, Fitladz promoter Steve Darragh. For thirteen years the Fitladz brand has the celebrated scally, chav sportswear look, and the short nylon short is a scene staple. He told us:
“I admit Adidas inspired our very original logo but we soon adapted it to the winged version which remained for a decade before the current one. However, I never thought for 1 minute we’d still be around 13 years later. Now I am feeling vintage and think I will go and dig my running shorts out from the ’80s!”
If you’re into men showing off their throbbing equipment in short nylon shorts then Fitladz is where it’s at. It’s a sports gear party for guys who love getting their scally on and misbehaving around some dark corners. To mark their big birthday, which kicks off on Friday, 30th August at 10 pm, they’ll be kicking it into overdrive with free entry for Fitladz members for the first hour.
Fitladz takes over Bunker Bar, Shoreditch EC1V 1JN every Friday night, 10 pm – 5 am. £10 entry includes free drink and coat check. Find out more HERE.
