Is the Hoodie an Icon of Fashion?

The hoodie has a fascinating history that spans centuries and has evolved from workwear to a global fashion thing.

An icon of fashion  is a piece of clothing can become iconic when it’s worn in a way that captures a cultural moment, expresses personality, or breaks fashion norms. Sometimes, it even leads to a trend that lasts for decades!

The Hoodie: From Humble Beginnings to Fashion Icon

You probably have a favorite hoodie, soft, comfortable, and perfect for almost any occasion. But have you ever wondered how this simple piece of clothing became a global fashion icon?

Hooded garments date back to medieval Europe, where monks wore robes with hoods, and outdoor workers used hooded capes for protection against the cold.

The hoodie wasn’t always cool. In fact, it started as workwear in the 1930s when a company called Champion designed hooded sweatshirts for factory workers and athletes who needed warmth in freezing temperatures. At first, it was just a practical piece of clothing, but little did anyone know, it was about to become a symbol of culture and rebellion.

In the 1970s, something changed. New York’s hip-hop scene, breakdancers, and graffiti artists embraced the hoodie, using it as a way to express themselves while staying mysterious. Then came Rocky (1976), a young boxer training in a grey hoodie, showing the world that this wasn’t just clothing, but a symbol of determination.

By the 1990s, skateboarders and rappers made the hoodie part of streetwear culture. It became a statement piece: bold, rebellious, and cool.

In the 2000s, the hoodie went mainstream. Tech geniuses like Mark Zuckerberg wore it as their signature look, proving that fashion could be comfortable. Then high-fashion brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, and Off-White transformed the hoodie into a luxury item. Today, it’s a wardrobe essential, worn by celebrities, athletes, and everyday people alike.

But the hoodie isn’t just about style. It has been part of social movements, representing everything from protest to identity. It’s a blank canvas; you can wear it oversized, fitted, colorful, or minimalist. It tells a story about who you are and what you stand for.

So the next time you throw on your hoodie, remember: you’re not just wearing fabric. You’re wearing history, culture, and a little bit of rebellion.

Is the hoodie an icon of fashion? Absolutely! The hoodie has become a symbol of flexibility, rebellion, and self-expression. It easily adapts to streetwear, athleisure, and high fashion.

History of Streetwear: the Hoodie

The first hoodie was produced in the 1930s in New York. The garment was developed by Champion as protective wear. Champion wanted to come up with a garment that would keep athletes warm before and after training. At first people called it the side-line sweatshirt because athletes wore it when they were sitting on the side line of an American Football field. At first the garment was just a sweatshirt, but in 1934 the hood was added to the sweatshirt to give better protection from the elements (=bad weather).

In the mid-seventies, hoodies were part of hip-hop culture, which was developing on the streets of New York City. They were still serving a practical function – breakdancers wore them on the street to keep their bodies warm before they performed. But a new function was emerging. Graffiti artists were wearing them and not just to keep warm at night but they were keeping the hood up to hide their identity from the police.

In the 1980s the hoodie gained cult status thanks to skateboarders. At that time, there were few skate parks, and so skaters were forced to practise wherever they could, whether it was legal or not. Once again, the hoodie was used for hiding the skaters’ faces from the authorities The hoodie was beginning to become a symbol of rebellion, worn by outsiders on the limits of society, and it has never lost that criminal edge. But at the same time, it moved into mainstream fashion with the streetwear movement, when sportswear became a fashion trend.

The streetwear trend has lasted into the present. Dress codes have relaxed and people prefer to be comfortable. No one goes out on a Friday night wearing a suit any more. In fact, wearing a hoodie can be a kind of anti-fashion statement. When a high-profile social media boss wears a hoodie, it means that he’s too busy with changing the world to worry about what he looks like.

Note: Champion is a brand of clothing, specializing in sportswear.

Have you got a hoodie? Do you think a hoodie is now an icon of fashion? Leave your comment.