A wardrobe staple for most people is at least one hoodie. Whether it’s as part of a day-to-day look, a stylish piece or a must-have on the way to the gym, more people than ever wear hoodies on a regular basis.
In this article, we explore the hoodie’s long-standing history and how they’ve become so popular in recent years. Read on to find out more!
A brief history of the hoodie
While seemingly a modern style choice, hoodies actually have their roots way back in mediaeval times. The idea for hooded garments can be traced all the way back to Medieval Europe when the monks of the era would wear hooded outfits that were called cowls.
Interestingly, these ‘cowls’ had much of the same functionality as the hoodies of today, as they kept them warm while wandering the freezing monasteries. The ‘hooded’ concept soon moved from the religious institutions to become an important part of outwear, helping workers protect their head from the elements and keeping the heat in from the top of their body.
Moving into modern times
It was during the 1930s that the hoodie began to take the form and popularity that we know of today. American clothing makers like Champion Athletic Apparel began to experiment with different materials to keep both workers and athletes warm, beginning with the sweatshirt material we all know today.
It began to move into a ‘fashion’ statement in the high schools of the 1950s, as hoodies, along with letterman jackets and polo shirts, became as much a part of style as functionality.
The next stage in the hoodie’s evolution came alongside the rise of hip hop in the 1970s in New York. With this cultural phenomenon came art like graffiti, rap music and breakdancing, but fashion too which included graphic hoodies. The hoodie allowed those who wear it to not only keep a low profile but also its comfortable fit meant that it was perfect for dance routines and movement.
Over on the other side of the United States, it became a staple for skaters and surfers who embraced the hoodie as a sign of a more relaxed culture — as well as being easy to wear while on the go.
A decade later, the hoodie was fully embedded into street style and worn by people everywhere.
The hoodie and office wear
In recent years, the hoodie has moved from a ‘leisure’ item to being worn in offices everywhere. In 2012, Mark Zuckerberg the CEO of Meta made the news by meeting Wall Street investors in a hoodie, which helped see in a new era for office wear from being much more formal to relaxed. While many critics called it too casual, the move marked a shift in where and who can where hoodies and has certainly changed what people wear for work on a day-to-day basis.
In fact, Zuckerberg famously said that the hoodie helped him from having ‘decision fatigue’ and improved his ability to focus, which considering the success of Meta is definitely a big statement to make. In any case, it seems like more CEOs are causal outfits than the suits you’d see in Mad Men, so the move certainly had a cultural and sartorial impact.
Today, hoodies come in a range of designs and have been adapted to meet its use in everyday wear. This can include everything from different designs to some hoodies that integrate our technology, including a hole in the pocket for cabled headphones.
Other innovations in hoodies include the materials, which are more sustainable, breathable and flexible than ever. Much like their early designs for mediaeval monks, hoodies are still a great option to have on hand for staying warm and can be easily layered over other pieces of clothing.
It will be interesting to see over the next few years whether formal wear to offices will make a comeback. One thing for certain: the hoodie is definitely here to stay either way!
Nike is the founder and editor at nameshype.com. He is graduated in English language and love to write and share information online.
Therefore he has created this unique community to give millions of people all over the world with unique, funny, cute and creative name ideas.
