SWEATSHIRTS

Transcending its original sportswear origins, the sweatshirt has been reinvented into a streetwear staple. Impeccable tailoring mixed with premium cotton fleece and French terry fabrics has made the sweatshirt a menswear cult status symbol. Forever a favorite of street and skate culture, the shape men’s sweatshirts draws inspiration from alternative culture with dropped shoulders, raglan sleeves, and rib knit crewneck collars. Designers repurpose a classic with updated textures like velvet, faux-fur, or terry cloth, which lay the groundwork for popular perennial motifs such as felted appliqués, collaged graphics, and repurposed typography. Whether tailored or oversized, designers use advancements in technology to produce an artfully worn-in or avant-garde look. Raw edges, bleached effects, or distressed details, layered constructions are littered throughout this season, while overlong cuffs, zippered vents, and innovative underlays shine through as unexpected details. The sweatshirt as an ideal vehicle for self-expression is also arguably one of the best ways to disseminate information on a mass scale and this season’s collection of sweatshirts, ranging from subtle to overstated logo and text placement, offer an abundance of options when it comes to representing oneself on a global scale.