Hug a Hoodie: The Friendly Side of Personalised Hoodies

UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s notorious advice that people should all ‘hug a hoodie’ has been much publicised and discussed. Following the London riots it has come under scrutiny again. Hoodies, certainly among the older generation, have evolved all sorts of negative connotations. Many young people, however, do not understand why this will be so.

For spider hoodie -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 smart way to show 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 as a way to remember positive experiences. Why do hoodie-wearers have this type of bad reputation?


One possibility is that, even though the greater part of youngsters wear hoodies, the only ones who make it in to the media are those that are up to no good. This may lead older people to assume that it’s young thugs and criminals alone who wear hoodies. This could 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, 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 can make people cautious with hoodie wearers, whether they wear personalised hoodies or otherwise, is the physical shape and style of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You will 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 which can make people nervous because 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, due to the fact their faces are hidden. If you are unable to start to see the faces of large groups it could seem scary as a result of insufficient human connection. Mostly, however, this prejudice contrary to the humble hoodie is a media construct, mixed with slightly little bit of class snobbery and fear of the young…a distressing cocktail when you think about it.

Why not show that personalised hoodies are just 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 like using them. Use personalised hoodies to demonstrate school pride, university affiliation and club membership.