Who invented hoodies?

The modern hoodie was invented by the apparel company Champion (then known as the Knickerbocker Knitting Company) in the 1930s.¹

While hooded garments like monk’s cowls have existed for centuries, the specific cotton “hooded sweatshirt” we wear today has a distinct industrial origin.²

The Origin Story (1934)

Champion originally designed the hoodie for utility, not fashion.³

• The Target Audience: The garment was created for laborers working in freezing cold-storage warehouses in upstate New York.⁴ They needed a thick, durable layer that could protect their heads from the cold while leaving their arms free to work.

   

• The First “Sideline” Gear: Shortly after, Champion realized the design was perfect for athletes.⁵ They began marketing it to high school football teams as a way to keep players warm on the sidelines during bad weather.

   

The Evolution of Cool

For decades, the hoodie was purely functional workwear.⁶ It didn’t become a cultural icon until much later:⁷

• 1976 (Rocky): The film Rocky is widely credited with making the gray heather hoodie a symbol of grit and hard work.⁸

   

• 1970s & 80s (Hip Hop & Skate):⁹ Graffiti artists and skaters adopted the hoodie because it provided anonymity and warmth for long nights outside.¹⁰

   

• 1990s (The Name): Surprisingly, the specific slang term “hoodie” didn’t become popular until the 1990s.¹¹ Before then, it was simply called a “hooded sweatshirt” or “hooded sweat.”¹²