While the hoodie originated in the 12th Century as hooded tunics and capes for monks and outdoor workers, what we know as the hoodie came to be in the 1930s. They were created by Abraham and William Feinbloom, owners of the Champion Knitting Mills. After providing for outdoor workers in freezing weather, they began supplying the military and footballers.
The hoodie earned iconic status in the 1970s when worn by stars in major films—Rocky, Marathon Man and E.T. Then Rap or hip hop musicians and professional athletes all inspired streetwear brands to showcase the hoodie in their collections. In 1982 innovative the fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, was the first to include hoodies in a European haute couture runway show. But the term hoodie wasn't coined till the 1990s, and subsequently acquired some negative connotations, which were recently explored in an exhibition at a museum in Rotterdam.
This year they're appearing on runways around the world as streetwear meets couture. Fashion houses from Gucci and Ralph Lauren to Prada and Burberry are creating designs that are hugely oversized or like second skin, cropped to show your tummy or worn long over bare legs. Are they still on trend? Yes, they're here to stay.