vlone jacket that people should all ‘hug a hoodie’ has been much publicised and discussed. After the London riots it has come under scrutiny again. Hoodies, certainly among the older generation, have evolved a variety of negative connotations. Many young people, however, don’t realize why this will be so.
For many totally law-abiding teenagers, the humble hoodie is a warm, comfortable clothing choice and nothing more. Personalised hoodies have become especially popular among the younger generation, being a smart way showing your support for a club, team, group or cause. Plenty of youngsters get hooded sweatshirts composed as a keepsake from old schools, or fun group holidays. Hoodies are generally used in an effort to remember positive experiences. Why do hoodie-wearers have such a bad reputation?
One possibility is that, although the the greater part of youngsters wear hoodies, the only real ones who make it into the media are the ones that are around no good. This may lead the elderly to assume that it’s young thugs and criminals alone who wear hoodies. This could mean that all hoodies, even friendly personalised hoodies, get unfairly judged and maligned.
Exposure to perfectly nice youngsters who wear personalised hoodies, or hoodies generally, could help the older generations to realise that the image of the dangerous, out-of-control youngsters in hoodies, isn’t the norm.
Another element which can make people cautious with hoodie wearers, if they wear personalised hoodies or elsewhere, is the physical shape and style of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You will no doubt have seen signs in shop windows which read: ‘NO HOODS IN STORE’. The fact that hoodies have an, eponymous, hood might sound obvious but it is something can make people nervous because it obscures the faces of wearers.
The images in the media of faceless gangs of youths in hoodies, even yet in personalised hoodies, can look particularly menacing, simply because their faces are hidden. When you are unable to see the faces of large groups it could seem scary as a result of lack of human connection. Mostly, however, this prejudice against the humble hoodie is a media construct, mixed with slightly bit of class snobbery and fear of the young…an unpleasant cocktail once you think about it.
You will want to show that personalised hoodies are simply as fun, lovable, stylish and friendly because the next item of clothing. Since personalised hoodies are fully customisable it is possible to spread any message you prefer with them. Use personalised hoodies to show school pride, university affiliation and club membership.