The History of the Hoodie

Hoodies were invented by the clothing company Champion in the 1930s as a garment for athletes to wear on the sidelines at games or during practices to keep warm. It was also marketed toward outdoor laborers who needed to stay warm in cold weather. Still, the hoodie was mainly used by athletes until the 1970s, when it became a streetwear staple and was adopted by various alternative subcultures. The garment became particularly popular among hip-hop artists, skaters, and punks. Over time, hoodies as a streetwear staple became more mainstream, and by the turn of the 21st century, they were especially popular among teenagers and students. Many fashion retailers began offering branded hoodies, including '00s staples like Aéropostale. Colleges, sports teams, and bands also began offering hoodies emblazoned with names and logos. The tech sector also adopted hoodies as part of their deliberately casual uniform, making them acceptable to wear in many offices for the first time. In the wake of the shooting of unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, hoodies became a symbol of solidarity and protest against racism. Today, hoodies remain a staple garment across the United States and are worn for a variety of reasons, including comfort, warmth, practicality, protest, and self-expression.