Despite the arguments forand against, the hood remains a popular and useful garment with fashionenthusiasts reclaiming this apparel in a new form.

 

A hoodie is a heavy uppergarment with a hood. The garment includes large front pockets, a hood, and usuallycontains a drawstring to adjust the size of the hood. Sometimes, the garment isalso tailored with a zip. The history of the hood dates back to 30s, whenlaborers in New York used it to protect themselves from the chilly weather. Asthey cannot spend much on their clothing, they were provided with good qualityapparels which would last for a long time. Thus hooded sweatshirts became theirbest option. In the span of time, with new fads zooming in the market, theywere used by all classes. During the 70s, Sylvester Stallone seen in a hoodedsweatshirt as ' Rocky' made the garment a 'fashion icon'. Later on, designers tailoredtheir collections based on this pattern and gave popularity to the clothing.

 

Generally manufactured incotton-jersey, the hood went through a fascinating journey from an innocuoussports casual wear, to a leitmotif of menace. They are often associated withteenage menace, who engage in cumbersome activities; and want to remain unidentifiedunder the hood. In UK, wearing hooded garments were subjected to heavycriticism, as shoplifters were using it to hide their faces from the CCTVcameras. In many shopping centres hooded sweatshirt is being associated withthe uniform of thugs.

 

Despite the entire bad rap,hooded apparels have been favored by many as a college garment, fashion attire,street wear, sportswear item, and to give protection against chilly weather. Ithas become a desirable apparel in almost every industry. It is being preferredby people of both sexes and of all ages, and is regarded as a practical garmentwhich is also aesthetically pleasing. It proves to be an ideal garment forsports activities such as skateboarding, or snowboarding. It keeps the wearerwarm and comfortable, and gives additional warmth and protection from coldweather.

 

Hooded t-shirts are available ina plethora of charming patterns, colors and designs, manufactured in accordancewith the current fashion trends. Best selling hooded shirts comprise of acombination of 80 percent cotton and 20 percent polyester. Combining bothaspects of leisure wear and work wear, they are a trendy garment ideal foryounger markets. Though available for people of all ages, apparel manufacturersmostly target the age group of 18-30. The latest trend is hooded shirts forboth men and women with deep cuffs and thumbholes to keep hands warm, and adouble layered hood with a long and lean silhouette. For people who are focusedon health and fitness, yoga hoodies are available in the market, and sleevelesshooded shirts are available for gym sessions. Hoodies with internal phonepockets are also seen in store racks. Customized hooded sweatshirts are alsomanufactured by printing an image of the customer's choice on a blank shirt.

 

With all its virtues, hoodedapparels have overcome the bad rap, and are considered both as a functional andfashionable wear.

 

References:

 

  1. "Reclaiming The Hoodie", Dan Worth, Company Clothing, February 2009.
  2. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1706)%>" target="_blank">http://www.articlesbase.com/
  3. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1706)%>" target="_blank">http://blogs.birminghampost.net