Clothing is often used as a form of self-expression, and to show an affiliation with certain groups or societies. Just as Goth culture is synonymous with leather coats and spiked boots, the Hippy culture is renowned for having members wear tie-dye hair bands and flared jeans.
It is in this way that clothes can easily become a uniform for those wearing them, and can brand items of clothing sitting on a retail shelf with a cultural affiliation. Certain items of clothing take on a status or attitude which make them more exclusive and create instantly-recognisable connotations both positive and negative in nature.Hoodies are an example of this. Hoodies were once viewed as the signature ware of teenagers in towns and cities around the country who partook in yob culture, which predominantly included showing aggression, undergoing public intoxication and displaying thug-like behaviour.
However, hoodies have steadily become just another item of clothing in the last few years, since the affiliation with yob culture started to melt. As the public began to understand that it was the people behind the clothing who were responsible for their fear, and that there was a host of other cultures and average citizens wearing these garments, hoodies are now barely affiliated with negativity.
In fact, hoodies are now used to show support, unity and membership across a host of different groups.Hoodies can be printed so that members of clubs and teams can stay warm and comfortable while being instantly visible. Hoodies serve as a reminder that the identical uniform marks them out as the members of a shared society, whether that is a sporting team, extracurricular group, or an entire educational establishment.Available to be branded with names, logos, crests, numbers, slogans, and images, printed and personalised hoodies have given a brand new status to these once-feared items of clothing.