People started wearing scarves or woollen caps over their ears, along with a sweater or cardigan, to protect them against the cold. Combining the two resulted in a hoodie. Also known as a sweatshirt, Kangaroo jacket or a hooded jumper, the hoodie is a heavy jumper with a hood commonly worn by boys and men, with women sometimes wearing one too.
The hoodie features large pockets in the front and a hood with a drawstring for adjustment. Others have a zip at the front and are referred to as hoodie jackets. This garment has been strongly influenced by various cultures over the years. In Canada, for instance, this garment is a staple garment in the male closet, regardless of the weather.
Before the modern day hoodie came into being, it was worn in the medieval times as formal wear by Catholic monks. The dress had a long and decorative hood known as cowl, attached to the tunic or robe. In 1930, the hoodie was adapted as functional wear for the labourers in the frozen warehouses in the US. Hip hop culture also popularized hoodies among the younger generation. Some of the hooded sweaters could be completely zipped up to cover the face, with only the eyes visible through a mesh. The garment became even more glamorous after Sylvester Stallone wore it in the movie Rocky and found instant appeal with athletes, workers and teenagers. Since the 1990s, it was accepted by the academic culture, sportsmen and the masses at large.
While the basic design of the hoodie remains consistent, variations in the pocket styles, the presence of the zipper, the printed messages and logos on the front, the colour and fabric used and the purpose of the garment (warmth or fashion) contribute vastly to its popularity. Fur-lined hoodies are a hot favourite in very cold countries. A Personal Area network hoodie has a built-in, integrated wire system with special ear buds for iPods and other devices. Made of lightweight micro fleece in black, this sweatshirt is thick enough to ward off the chill yet thin enough to enable the user to control the device through the fabric.
A perfect piece of clothing to brave cold weather, hoodies feature in almost every wardrobe.
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