Starting a clothing brand got me thinking about the origins of the everyday pieces that we wear. At some point and time in history someone saw a need and came up with a solution. What inspired the clothing basics that we see today?
For instance what could have driven someone to design a clothing item such as the hoodie? To better understand how we got our modern day hoodie, we need need to delve into the past and see what their environment and daily needs were to require such a unique concept.
The hooded garment was around since ancient times, but the earliest memory I would say that we have of the hooded garment concept would be the Medieval Times, often worn by monks. The hooded robe or cape served the purpose of keeping distractions away, to be more focused in prayer, and symbolically keep you looking ahead at Christ and not wavering from left to right.
The hooded sweatshirt concept or hoodie was invented in the 1930's by the Knickerbocker Knitting Company, which became the brand "Champion". Champion first marketed its wares to laborers working in freezing temperatures and with dropped shoulder seams to football players. The dropped shoulder seams allowed them to wear the hoodie over shoulder pads.
The hoodie was brought into the spotlight particularly in the 1970's which were full of societal and political movements, such as the anti-Vietnam war, the fight against racial discrimination, and the continued feminist movement. The various subcultures adopted the hoodie as a symbol of resistance and rebellion, including the hippies who embraced non conformity and resisted mainstream norms.
During the 1980's the hoodie was backed by the hip hop culture. The hoodies tended to be oversized and paired with track pants, gold chains, and sneakers. The hip hop culture was highly influential. Around this time, the hoodie also filled the need for skate boarders to protect themselves against harsh elements and for athletes to be used for trainings and work outs.
The 90's brought a range of various designs and styles and pushed hoodies into the mainstream. Large brands such as Nike and Adidas capitalized on the idea, making them one of the most recognized and sought after brands. The versatility of the hoodie was further popularized by certain music bands and celebrities.
The 2000's and later saw a rise and fall of various styles of the modern day hoodie for both men and women. Today we see very streamlined versions of hoodies that can be worn under jackets, and all in all a highly popular fashion piece and statement. People from all walks of life continue to embrace and enjoy the modern day hoodie for the warmth, the comfort, the mobility, and their versatility.
Unfortunately, the fashion industry has not always been a health conscious industry with the way garments and fabrics are produced. Today more and more people are becoming aware of harmful and toxic chemicals and substances in textile production and are switching to organic clothing. We at Asti Clothing enjoy providing that high quality organic cotton hoodie that will serve you for whatever your daily needs/activities require!
Until next time!