Streetwear hoodies have evolved to become one of the mainstream fashion trends among people. We can often see people wearing these hoodies out there in numerous parts of the world, including in New York. These hoodies have been there for quite some time and have evolved along with time. Hence, it is worthy to deep dive and explores the history of them and how they evolved along with time.
The history of streetwear hoodies in NYC
According to a fashion historian in New York named Laura McLaws Helms, people tend to consider hoodies as something that represent anti-socialism. There are numerous garments, which represent anti-social and anti-establishment things. However, streetwear hoodies hold a prominent place out of them.
The very first streetwear hoodies hit the market back in the 1930s. During that time, it was something that could deliver a variety of practical benefits for the people. For example, athletes prefer to wear hoodies in order to keep themselves warm. It didn’t take a long time for them to become a streetwear fashion. We can assume that the practical benefits of hoodies tempted people to start using them for streetwear.
Likewise, the popularity of hoodies increased along with time and they could become a counterculture rep during the 1970s. This is one of the most prominent milestones that you can find in the history of hoodies. This trend was initiated by the graffiti artists out there in New York. It was possible to see graffiti featuring hoodies in numerous urban centers in the city.
It was followed by the skater scene and hip-hop crown who lived during the 1980s and 1990s. They borrowed streetwear hoodies from their previous generation and took that to a whole new level. By the end of the 1970s, it seemed like the hoodies would swing back into its initial roots. However, the way how people discovered using streetwear hoodies as resort wear and leisurewear contributed a lot towards its progression.
The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg also contributed a lot towards the progression of hoodies. When he first entered the public sphere during the early 2000s, we could see him wearing a hoodie at all times. Even though he is not wearing sport jackets and blazers, there was a time where we couldn’t see Zuckerberg without wearing hoodies.
Association of hoodies with mischief and crime
Became streetwear hoodies became a mainstream fashion trend, they were associated with mischief and crime. We could see that during the past decade as well. However, it was more prominent in other parts of the world than NYC. For example, politicians, such as the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, once endorsed campaigns to ban the use of baseball caps and hoodies in public spaces. That’s mainly because of the negative impression associated with streetwear hoodies at that time.
However, things have changed now. The current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron is addressing the causes, which led people who wore hoodies to break the law. Along with that, he wanted to remove the negative impression that society has towards hoodies. This is where he came up with the “hug-a-hoodie” campaign.
Hoodies were the official uniform of gangsters back in history. This was something that we could see in NYC as well. Whenever people saw a black man wearing a hoodie, they got the impression that he can be a potential gangster or a thug. We don’t get this feeling as of now. That’s because capitalism has been able to transform streetwear hoodies into a mainstream fashion trend.
The role played by streetwear hoodies now in the streetwear culture
As of now, streetwear hoodies are quite popular among people. We can see thousands of people in NYC wearing them. They include Walmart shoppers to soccer moms to high schoolers. You will also be able to purchase a hoodie with ease. You can easily locate them in the big-box stores located all around NYC. They are reasonably priced as well. You just need to spend under $10 to purchase the best quality hoodies available out there.
Hoodies are being used by people who adhere to almost all the fashion genres. In other words, they are used by high-end designers, grunge rockers, and even skateboarders. For most people, hoodies are not yet a fashion statement. Instead, they tend to consider streetwear hoodies as a practical garment. That’s because hoodies are ideal to be worn as an overcoat or layer. These hoodies are associated with numerous applications as well. If you want to make your day to day life easy, you can go ahead and wear a hoodie without keeping any doubt in mind.
To cater to the demand, some of the leading fashion brands are manufacturing their own hoodies as well. they include Hugo Boss, Juicy Couture, and Ralph Lauren. We can expect them to remain as one of the most popular outfits among people in NYC for quite some time. In fact, the demand for streetwear hoodies is still increasing. We will also be able to see some altered and better-looking versions coming into the market to cater to the demands of people.
We can also see how the hoodies have evolved to become a cultural cache as of now. Once you see a streetwear hoodie in the wild, you will be able to get narrative thoughts about the wearer. The recent “Black Lives Matter” movement is a perfect example to prove the above-mentioned fact. This movement was triggered by the murder of Trayvon Martin. He was wearing a hoodie at that time. Due to the same reason, we could see people wearing streetwear hoodies throughout the Black Lives Matter movement.
You don’t need to think twice before you purchase streetwear hoodies as of now. They are widely accepted as a fashion statement in NYC and many other parts of the world. You just need to take a look at the options available out there and go for the best one that matches your preferences.