Hoodie History: Origins, Evolution, and Why It Stuck Around

When you think of a hoodie, a pullover or zip-up garment with a hood, originally designed for laborers and athletes. Also known as a sweatshirt with a hood, it’s one of the few clothing items that crossed from workwear to high fashion without losing its soul. The hoodie didn’t start as a style statement. It was built for function—warmth, mobility, and protection from the elements. Back in the 1930s, Champion, a textile company in New York, created the first hooded sweatshirts for warehouse workers and athletes training in cold gyms. No one imagined it would one day be worn by rappers, CEOs, and kids on school buses alike.

The real shift came when the hoodie became tied to identity. In the 1970s and 80s, it showed up in urban streets, then in hip-hop culture, then in skate parks. It wasn’t just clothing—it was armor, anonymity, and attitude. Streetwear, a fashion movement rooted in youth subcultures and functional clothing. Also known as urban fashion, it took the hoodie and turned it into a canvas for logos, graphics, and rebellion. Brands like Adidas, Nike, and later Supreme didn’t just sell hoodies—they sold belonging. Meanwhile, athleisure, the blend of athletic wear and everyday fashion. Also known as performance casual, it made the hoodie acceptable everywhere—from the office to the grocery store. The hoodie didn’t need to change to survive. It just needed people to stop seeing it as just a gym thing.

Today, the hoodie is a cultural artifact. It’s been worn by protesters, tech founders, movie characters, and grandparents. Its fabric has evolved—from heavy cotton to blends with moisture-wicking tech—but its core hasn’t. It’s still about comfort, simplicity, and a little bit of defiance. You’ll find posts here that break down what a 100% cotton hoodie really feels like, how to pick the best brand, what to call a zip-up version, and even the slang that grew around it. You’ll see how it connects to broader trends in fashion, from vintage jackets to sportswear labels. This isn’t just about a piece of clothing. It’s about how something practical became personal—and then universal.