Originally sports jerseys were just seen as a part of a team's regular equipment. In fact, traditionally, football players had no option but to wear jerseys that were plain with long sleeves and much heavier than their modern National Football League equivalent. From a critical standpoint, it was invariably argued that the reason for the equipment's lack of popular appeal was that it was only part of the team equipment with no fancy embellishments. The equipment was regarded just as work clothes in the same way that a house painter wears coveralls.
The modern popularity of the National Football League and the advent of football teams' personalized jerseys have imbued team equipment with a new lease of life and chic credibility. Team uniforms have become a trendy and desirable fashion accessory culminating with the simple jersey once-and-for-all laying the ghost of its work-clothes image, and becoming a symbol of heroism, achievement, team spirit and triumph in the face of adversity.
NFL players' jerseys now have shorter sleeves, more interesting and fashionable colors and innovative patterns. A great deal of attention is now given to the design, appearance and appeal - not to mention marketing - of team equipment.
A note about football jerseys:
From 2010, visiting team's jerseys will need to meet a standard criteria. The yoke of the jersey (from the neckline to the seam at mid-chest including the shoulders) and the body (the area below the yoke) will be white and will contain only allowed adornments and accessory patterns:
Stripes: May be placed on the sleeves to a maximum of 1 inch in width.
Border: Maximum of 1 inch in width may be placed around the collar and cuffs.
Side seam: An insert from the underarm's to the top of the pants to a maximum of 4 inches in width.
Also beginning in 2010 the home team jersey will need to meet a standard criteria. The yoke and body of the jersey must not include white except as the number of the jersey, a decorative stripe, a border on the collar or cuff or a side seam.
Sports fans of all ages proudly showing off replica matching jerseys to support their favorite teams and players is not a new occurance. However, because of well concieved changes that have been made to sports apparel recently, a great number of people now wear replica jerseys both in and away from their sports arenas. Wearing the jersey of their favorite team or individual player is now a personal style statement of the younger and, possibly surprisingly, the older generation. This change is the reason for the incredible increase in the demand for sports equipment, particularly team jerseys.
Also the immense popularity of football as a major American sport has further enhanced the popularity of the jersey. There are a great many opportunities for football fans to follow their chosen sport. NFL Football, College Football, NCAA Football and the immensely popular Monday Night Football.
This has all added to the growing demand for collecting game worn sport jerseys and team gear. A growing army of people young and old now have a passion for collecting authentic game worn football and replica jerseys of NFL stars.