UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s notorious advice that we should all ‘hug a hoodie’ has been much publicised and discussed. After vlone jacket has come under scrutiny again. Hoodies, certainly on the list of older generation, have evolved all kinds of negative connotations. Many young people, however, do not understand why this should be so.
For many totally law-abiding young people, the humble hoodie is a warm, comfortable clothing choice and nothing more. Personalised hoodies have become especially popular among the younger generation, being a great 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 frequently used as a way to remember positive experiences. So why do hoodie-wearers have such a bad reputation?
One possibility is that, even though the greater part of youngsters wear hoodies, the only real ones who make it into the media are the ones that are up to no good. This could lead older people to assume that it’s young thugs and criminals alone who wear hoodies. This may mean that all hoodies, even friendly personalised hoodies, get unfairly judged and maligned.
Contact with perfectly nice youngsters who wear personalised hoodies, or hoodies generally, may 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 otherwise, is the condition and style of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You will no doubt have seen signs in shop windows which read: ‘NO HOODS IN STORE’. The point that hoodies have an, eponymous, hood might sound obvious but it is something which can make people nervous since 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. While you are unable to start to see the faces of large groups it can seem scary due to the insufficient human connection. Mostly, however, this prejudice against the humble hoodie is really a media construct, mixed with just a little bit of class snobbery and concern with the young…a distressing cocktail when you think about it.
You will want to show that personalised hoodies are simply as fun, lovable, stylish and friendly as 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 demonstrate school pride, university affiliation and club membership.