The hoodie is one of, if not the most ubiquitous item in streetwear today. So much so, that it has transcended through high fashion territory in the last half-decade.
YZY x GAP’s Double-Layered Hoodies
Whether you’re looking at legacy mall brands like GAP, streetwear for cool Instagram-types like Stüssy, or heritage luxury houses like Louis Vuitton, the hoodie is the common thread that weaves through every junction in fashion. We’ve all seen those claims by now — ‘this is the best hoodie in the world’, or ‘finally, the perfect fitting hoodie.’ Every brand is on a tangential race to create the ‘best’ or the ‘perfect’ hoodie. It’s a never-ending topic that gets discussed ad nauseam in the community. And yet, we never tire of arguing about which brand makes the best one, myself included.
Images via Aimé Leon Dore
My discovery of Aimé Leon Dore was rooted in their hoodies. I found them after a rabbit hole of searching “Made in Canada Hoodies.” They were the best hoodies I’ve ever tried, and I’ve been hooked ever since. My affinity for them started early, and it was all thanks to their fantastic hoodies. But is it the perfect hoodie? They retail for $185 and they pretty much never hit the sale racks anymore since they have focused way more on DTC and have gone away from wholesaling. Not to say they’re not worth the $185 price tag, but that’s on the higher end of things especially in the streetwear space.
I’m sure we’ve all been through our fair share of hoodies in search of that perfect one. Initially, I had the idea of comparing two of the most talked-about brands in the community and just doing a head-to-head comparison between the two — YZY x GAP, and ESSENTIALS.
Images via Fear of God
But while I was at it, I thought I may as well include others in the fold. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to become that ‘The best 50 hoodies to buy right now” type of read. As they started to come in, I started diving into them one by one, comparing weight, feel, and details to an almost concerning degree. By the end of it, I was convinced I could name the brands just from the touch.
“But Dean, which is the best one?” you might be eagerly asking. Well, here’s the part where I tell you that the perfect hoodie doesn’t exist.
As I started to check off boxes and make notes for the perfect hoodie, I’ve come to realize that not everyone will have the same boxes to check. Now I know that’s not some revolutionary take, but it’s important to acknowledge. Me, you, and everyone else are on the same journey to finding that perfect hoodie, but we’re not all going to land in the same place. Yet every other day, a new brand on my explore page is claiming to have the best hoodie of all time.
Take the YZY x GAP as an example, in my notes I wrote ‘This hoodie is basically Steph Curry, it has GOAT potential, but it’s 2 inches too short.” And yes, I sized up, and it was still too short for my liking. I’m rarely the tallest person in the room, so I have a hard time thinking this would be an ideal fit for everyone. Let’s all hope Balenciaga is going to come in and add that finishing touch, the remaining 2 inches.
Look, my whole point is finding the perfect hoodie is more about finding it than it is about the hoodie itself. Let’s face it, none of us are gonna get one hoodie and only wear that for the rest of time. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s become the most ubiquitous item in streetwear and fashion. It’s a vessel for self-expression rather than just another piece of the puzzle. Instead of obsessing over the one, it’s a much better exercise to find what you align with and make your decisions from there. The reality is that it’s almost impossible to get a bad hoodie these days.
Supreme Box Logo Hoodies FW21
Most reputable labels get their blanks from the same places, and chances are you probably already own a hoodie from your favorite brand. Want something minimal? ALD, JJJJound, and all their copycats have something for you. Oversized and baggy? Rue Porter or ESSENTIALS got you covered (or you can always just size up).
You just absolutely love Ye? YZY x Gap. You just wanna flex? Supreme BOGO. You wanna get reposted on a moodboard? Buy their merch. Been to Japan once? Go Kapital crazy.
Whether you realize it or not, the hoodie is the most straightforward way to communicate and signal what kind of hypebeast enthusiast you are. There’s a way to signal just about anything. The sooner you internalize that, the better your hoodie purchases start to become. No matter what that random person on the internet tells you about how overpriced or overrated this or that brand is, the most important thing is having fun with the whole process.
You had to be there
Buying clothes is supposed to be fun, don’t let anyone make it feel otherwise. No matter what we read or say, nothing is going to stop us from buying that next hoodie.
Maybe, just maybe, the best hoodie ever is the one you’ve had all along.
