What’s Good In The Hood? Everything You Need to Know About Hoodies

Whether you’re going for a laid back look or just want to be comfy on a cool autumn day, nothing fits the bill like a classic hoodie. These popular garments can be worn by everyone from soccer moms to skater kids and they never seem to go out of style. It’s no wonder why they’re one of the biggest sellers at Port 213 Premium Streetwear for Kids.

There’s a lot to learn about the humble hoodie, so let’s take a closer look and find out just why this particular piece of clothing has stood the test of time.

When Were Hoodies Invented and By Whom?

While they have become closely associated with both the hip-hop and skater communities, it might surprise you to find out that hoodies actually date all the way back to the 1920’s and 30’s. That’s when Champion Products, formerly known as the Knickerbocker Knitting Company, first introduced the sweatshirt as an alternative to the heavy woolen garments of the day.

The first sweatshirt was actually produced by Champion in 1919, but it wasn’t until the 1930’s that they were introduced to the general market.  At this time, sweatshirts were designed primarily for factory workers and athletes who needed to protect themselves from the elements but didn’t want to be weighed down by heavy wools.  Athletes, who needed the ability to move easily and who would sweat a lot, were particularly unhappy with the confining aspect of wool so lighter weight sweatshirts appealed to them quite a bit.

The hood was added in 1934 to provide an extra layer of protection against the elements and a fashion icon was born.  Over the next several decades, the popularity of hoodies extended as athletes loaned their sweatshirts to their girlfriends. Before long, they had become a part of mainstream fashion and it was common to see hoodies with the logo of your high school or college popping up all over campus.

In the 1970’s, hoodies took on a whole new significance when they became associated with various street cultures, including hip-hop, graffiti art and skateboarding.  Now they were becoming the clothing of choice for urban kids in particular and their popularity got a major boost when Sylvester Stallone famously sported a gray hoodie in the movie “Rocky”.

The world of high fashion took notice in the 1980’s when designer Norma Kamali created her Sweatshirt Collection.  Suddenly hoodies were seen as chic rather than just sporty and everyone was wearing them. That popularity has continued into the 2000’s and hoodies are now a wardrobe staple in almost everyone’s closet.

How To Style Hoodies

One of the things that makes hoodies, like our Peace Love Happiness Hoodie, so popular is their versatility. There is almost an endless variety of ways that hoodies can be worn, so figuring out how to style hoodies should be easy no matter your age, size or personal fashion sense.  They’ve gone far beyond their original purpose of providing warmth to making fashion and social statements and, of course, making any outfit more comfortable.  While there are many different ways to wear a hoodie, style starts with finding the right fit.

Hoodies are certainly intended to be comfortable but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to hang loosely like a giant, shapeless bag. The best fit actually should be somewhere in the middle, not too big or too small, just tight enough to maintain its shape without bulging or bagging in the middle, while it sits firmly at the cuffs and waistband.

You don’t want your hoodie to hang too low or it will actually make your legs look shorter, which is never a flattering look. Instead, it should stop just above the fly of your jeans, giving a longer, leaner overall look. At the same time, the sleeves and neck should also fit comfortably without being too tight or too baggy.

With a hoodie that fits right, like our Blue World Hoodie, you’re ready to rock any style, from gym clothes to paired with neat jeans and sneakers for a clean, crisp casual look. One of the most flexible of all hoodie types is the zip front, which can be worn open over a t-shirt as a lighter weight alternative to a jacket or even layered with a t-shirt underneath and a jacket on top for a more modern look.

How To Wash Hoodies

In order to keep that favorite hoodie looking and feeling its absolute best, you need to take good care of it. That means learning how to wash hoodies properly in order to prevent damage, shrinking and wear. As with all clothes, the more carefully you handle it, the longer your hoodie will last.

Proper washing begins with paying careful attention to the content and care label. Not all fabrics react the same to washing and tumble drying, so it’s essential that you know exactly what your hoodie is made of and if it requires any special care.  For instance, some hoodies will need to be dry cleaned while others can tolerate being thrown in the washer but may need to air dry for best results.

Since most hoodies are worn as outer layers, like our Charcoal Together Hoodie,  it’s not always necessary to wash them every time you wear them.  When you do wash your hoodie, always turn it inside out to protect  any designs or logos on the outside, zip up a zip-front hoodie to prevent the zipper from snagging on other clothes and tie up the drawstrings to prevent them from falling out.  As with any laundry, you’ll want to keep like colors together and avoid over stuffing the washer so that your hoodie has room to move. 

While some hoodies can shrink when put in the dryer, most of Port 213’s products are preshrunk, so you can wash and dry without worries. If you do choose to air dry, it’s a good idea to lay your hoodie flat or drape it over a shower rod, as drying on a hanger can cause bumps to form in the shoulders.

How To Fold Hoodies

Once your hoodie is washed, you’ll need to store it when it’s not in use.  Learning how to fold hoodies properly is important as it can help them to retain their shape and avoid wrinkling and damage to logos or designs.  Folding a hoodie can be tricky, since they can be bulky and take up a lot of room unless you do it right. Of course, you can always hang a hoodie, provided you use smooth wooden, plastic or padded hangers to avoid creating bumps in the shoulders.

When you do fold, you always want to start with the hoodie laid out flat and fold as neatly and crisply as possible to minimize bulk. You can either fold in half, sleeve to sleeve, then fold the sleeves back against the body and fold the entire hoodie in half or thirds or you can fold each sleeve in toward the middle of the body before folding the hoodie in half or thirds. You can fold the hood in against the body or leave it out and tuck the entire folded body into the hood when you’re done for a more compact package.

Choosing whether to hang or fold and how to fold hoodies can also depend on the type of fabric. Heavier fabrics can be hung while lighter fabrics, which are more prone to developing shoulder bumps, should be folded. The style of folding will depend on the amount of storage space you have.

Hoodies Are For Everyone!