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 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 made up as a keepsake from old schools, or fun group holidays. Hoodies are frequently 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 ones who make it into the media are the ones that are up to no good. This could lead the elderly to assume that it is young thugs and criminals alone who wear hoodies. This may imply 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, could 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 might make people wary of hoodie wearers, if they wear personalised hoodies or otherwise, is the condition and design 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 may appear 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 in personalised hoodies, can look particularly menacing, simply because their faces are hidden. If you are unable to start to see the faces of large groups it could seem scary due to lack of human connection. Mostly, however, this prejudice against the humble hoodie is really a media construct, mixed with slightly bit of class snobbery and fear of the young…a distressing cocktail once you think about it.
Backwoods Backpack 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 you can spread any message you prefer using them. Use personalised hoodies to show school pride, university affiliation and club membership.