The hoodie. This seemingly simple piece, so familiar that we eventually stop seeing it, actually hides a rich and complex history that spans centuries, continents, and cultures. From the monastic robes of the Middle Ages to the runways of the greatest contemporary designers, through the streets of New York and the skateparks of California, the hoodie has seen it all. And it's still here. At Ultimate StreetStore in Digne-les-Bains, we offer you the best interpretations of this absolute classic — notably Carhartt WIP and Jacker.
Medieval Origins: The Hood as a Sign of Distinction
The history of the hood began long before the invention of the sweatshirt. In medieval Europe, Dominican and Franciscan monks wore garments with hoods — the "cowl" or "capuce" in Latin. This hood had an obvious practical function (protection against cold and rain) but also a symbolic one: it marked belonging to a religious order, a community, an identity.
This link between the hood and community identity is perhaps the profound reason why the hoodie found such a strong resonance in cultures that value a sense of belonging: skate culture, hip-hop, punk. Cultures where clothing is not just clothing, but a sign of recognition between members of the same tribe.
1920: The Birth of the Modern Sweatshirt
The modern version of the sweatshirt — with its characteristic internal terry cloth — was invented in the 1920s in the United States. Benjamin Russell Jr., director of Russell Athletic, was looking for a solution to the discomfort problems of wool sports uniforms: they scratched, retained sweat, and were difficult to wash. By substituting cotton for wool, he created a revolutionary sports garment for its time.
The sweatshirt quickly became the go-to piece for athletic training in American universities. Football, basketball, and track and field teams massively adopted it, and university logos began to appear on chests and sleeves — creating a visual code of institutional pride that still endures today in collegiate streetwear.
1934: Champion Adds the Hood
It was in 1934 that the Champion Products brand — still a benchmark in sportswear today — added a hood to the sweatshirt and integrated the kangaroo pocket on the front. The modern hoodie was born. Initially designed for food processing workers in New York, who needed protection from the cold in refrigerated warehouses, it quickly found new uses and new audiences.
The 70s-80s: Rocky and the Hoodie Enter Legend
While the hoodie existed well before 1976, that year it truly entered American popular culture. In Sylvester Stallone's film Rocky, the hero trains at dawn wearing a gray hoodie. This image — simple, authentic, charged with emotion — would resonate in the collective memory and definitively associate the hoodie with determination, effort, and ambition.
In the 1980s, the New York hip-hop movement adopted the hoodie as a foundational piece of its wardrobe. Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash — all these rap pioneers wore the hoodie in their photos and music videos. Hood down or up depending on the mood, bright colors or neutral tones depending on the style: the hoodie became the sonic and sartorial expression of a generation.
The 90s: Punk, Skate, and the Rise of the Hoodie as Counterculture
If hip-hop gave the hoodie its cultural credentials, the hardcore punk scene and skate culture gave it an additional dimension: that of aesthetic rebellion. In California's skateparks, young people wore dark-colored hoodies, often with graphics from skate brands or music groups. The hood up was a signal: I'm here, I'm part of something, and I don't need your approval.
Brands like Stussy, Supreme, and Thrasher developed hoodies that became objects of desire in their own right, sold in limited editions and collected by thousands of enthusiasts.
Carhartt WIP: The Hoodie as a Workwear Manifesto
In the world of premium hoodies, Carhartt WIP holds a special place. The brand brings its tradition of workwear robustness and quality to this piece: heavy cottons that last for years, reinforced seams, finishes that withstand intensive use. A Carhartt WIP hoodie is a long-term investment — a piece that ages well and acquires a unique character over time.
At Ultimate StreetStore, our Carhartt WIP selection covers the classics of the hoodie range: the essential Hooded Chase Sweat, Hooded American Script, and Hooded Car-Lux Sweat, each with its specific material and style, but all driven by the same demand for quality.
Jacker: The Hoodie as a Narrative Object
At Jacker, the hoodie is not just a piece of clothing: it's a narrative object. The Parisian brand integrates inner screen prints into its pieces that tell fragments of history, transforming each hoodie into part of a larger story. Wearing a Jacker is wearing a secret — something only you and the brand share.
The Hoodie in 2025: Still as Relevant
Like all great pieces of contemporary fashion, the hoodie has gone through cycles of popularity and rejection, mainstream and underground. Today, it is worn by billionaires in Silicon Valley, skaters in Lyon, rappers in Paris, and students in universities worldwide. Its complete democratization has not made it lose its soul: it remains, in its most authentic version, a sign of belonging to something greater than oneself.
At Ultimate StreetStore, we offer the best versions of this iconic garment. Come discover our selection in store in Digne-les-Bains or on ultimate-streetstore.fr.