Sagging is a fashion trend that involves wearing pants or shorts significantly below the waist, often exposing the wearer's underwear or bare skin. This style emerged from hip-hop culture in the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s, initially as a symbol of rebellion against mainstream fashion norms and a way to express cultural identity. The origins of sagging are often attributed to the practice of inmates in prison having their belts confiscated, causing their pants to sag. As the style spread through hip-hop music and fashion, it became a controversial topic, with critics arguing that it promoted indecency and was associated with gang culture. Despite opposition, sagging has persisted as a fashion statement, evolving to include various degrees of sagging and different types of clothing. The trend has also influenced fashion designers, who have incorporated elements of sagging into their collections, blurring the lines between streetwear and high fashion. While sagging remains popular among some youth subcultures, it has faced legal challenges, with several municipalities in the United States attempting to ban the practice through ordinances and dress codes
fashion, hip-hop, streetwear, urban, youth, culture, rebellion, prison, controversy
Sagging is a fashion trend that has been popularized by hip-hop culture and is characterized by wearing pants or shorts below the waistline, often revealing the wearer's underwear. While it was initially seen as a sign of rebellion and non-conformity, it has since become a regular fashion trend embraced by designers and fashion enthusiasts alike. However, sagging has also been a subject of controversy, with some arguing that it promotes indecency and disrespect. One perspective that has not been explored in previous definitions is the potential health hazards associated with sagging. Wearing pants or shorts below the waistline can lead to discomfort and chafing, especially if the clothing is too tight around the thighs. Additionally, sagging can cause poor posture, as the weight of the pants pulls down on the hips and lower back, leading to strain and potential injury. Despite the potential health hazards, sagging remains a popular fashion trend, with many people embracing it as a form of self-expression and individuality. However, it is important to be mindful of the potential risks associated with sagging and to wear clothing that is comfortable and fits properly.
fashion, trend, hip-hop, rebellion, controversy, health hazards, discomfort, chafing, posture, self-expression
The word ‘sagging’ can be classified as a verb. Synonyms for the word ‘sagging’ include droop, slump, sag, dip and flag. Antonyms include stiffen, fortify and strengthen. Cognates of the word ‘sagging’ include the French word ‘sagir’, the German ‘sacken’ and the Dutch ‘zakken’. Variants of the word ‘sagging’ include sag, sagged and saggedness.
Etymology Morphology Sagging Word Meaning Origin Historical Derivation Language Form Change Linguistic Analysis
The word ‘sagging’ can be traced back to the early 18th century, first appearing in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1702, derived from the Proto-Indo-European root ‘sag’, meaning ‘droop’ or ‘droop down’. The earliest uses of ‘sagging’ in English referred to the drooping of the eyelids in a state of sleep, or the drooping of the body when fatigued. Over time, the word began to be used in many more contexts, most notably in reference to clothing, where its meaning of loosely fitting garments, often hanging loosely from the waist, became predominant. As a result of its use in this context, the word has developed a range of associated meanings, such as when referring to a person’s attitude or state of mind; in this sense, it typically implies a feeling of being listless, lacking motivation, or having a careless demeanor. The morphological aspects of ‘sagging’ can be seen in its derivational forms, such as sagged and sagging, while its pragmatic usage has come to imply different things to different people.
Etymology, Morphology, Linguistic, Historical, Pragmatics, Sagging.
The phenomenon of “Sagging” is typically defined as wearing trousers or shorts that are worn low around the hips, usually below the waistline and tight around the thighs, revealing part of the wearer’s underwear. As a behavior that has increasingly become popular in certain social contexts, it has been acknowledged in various languages with a range of terms. In European languages, equivalents include “basqueter” (French), “pontér” (Italian) and “cummerbund” (German). In Arabic, it is commonly referred to as “zaree3”, in Japanese “chokko” and in Hebrew, “hipster”. Turning to African languages, “sagging” is known as “zungu” in Swahili, “gbagbetsi” in Ewe, “xabolo” in Ga, “hanga” in Shona, “mufumba” in Akan, “beku” in Igbo, “minkie” in Bamana, and “valeng” in Sesotho. Lastly, in many Indigenous American languages, such as North American languages like Kutenai, Creek, or Navajo it is known as “hootsa”, “bokloki”, or “'awééh łíízh”, respectively.
Sagging trousers, sagging shorts, basqueter, pontér, cummerbund, zaree3, chokko, hipster, zungu, gbagetsi, xabolo, hanga, mufumba, beku, minkie, valeng, hootsa, bokloki, 'awééh łíízh.
CITATION : "Harris Awan. 'Sagging.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=224057 (Accessed on June 06, 2025)"
Sagging is a style of dress that has been popularized in the late 20th century by hip-hop culture. Characterized by drooping trousers and shorts below the waist, often revealing the boxer shorts, sagging was often seen as a sign of defiance, disinterest in conformity and a rebellious attitude. However, it has since become a regular fashion trend, with important designers such as Raf Simons, Balmain and Marc Jacobs offering sagging designs in collections.
Fashion, Hip-hop, Drooping, Rebellion, Sagging, Boxer Shorts, Defiance, Conformity
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