UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s notorious advice 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 all sorts of negative connotations. Many teenagers, however, don’t realize why this will be so.
For many totally law-abiding teenagers, the humble hoodie is really a warm, comfortable clothing choice and nothing more. Personalised hoodies have grown to be especially popular amonst the younger generation, being a smart way to show your support for a club, team, group or cause. Lots of youngsters get hooded sweatshirts made up as a keepsake from old schools, or fun group holidays. Hoodies are generally used as a way to remember positive experiences. So why do hoodie-wearers have such a bad reputation?
One possibility is that, although the vast majority of youngsters wear hoodies, the only ones who make it into the media are the ones that are up to no good. This may lead older people to assume that it is 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 in general, may help the older generations to realise that the image of the dangerous, out-of-control youngsters in hoodies, is not the norm.
Another element which can make people wary of hoodie wearers, whether they wear personalised hoodies or otherwise, is the condition and design of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You’ll no doubt have observed 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 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. If 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 really a media construct, mixed with just a little little bit of class snobbery and fear of the young…an unpleasant cocktail once you think about it.
Why not show that personalised hoodies are just as fun, lovable, stylish and friendly as the next item of clothing. Nasa Hoodies 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.