Hug a Hoodie: The Friendly Side of Personalised Hoodies
UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s notorious advice that we 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. Backwoods Backpack , however, do not understand why this should be so.
For many totally law-abiding teenagers, the humble hoodie is really a warm, comfortable clothing choice and nothing more. Personalised hoodies have become especially popular amonst the younger generation, being a great way to show your support for a club, team, group or cause. Lots of youngsters get hooded sweatshirts composed as a keepsake from old schools, or fun group holidays. Hoodies are generally used as a way to remember positive experiences. So 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 into the media are those that are up to no good. This could lead the elderly 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 generally, may help the older generations to realise that the image of the dangerous, out-of-control youngsters in hoodies, isn’t the norm.
Another element which might make people wary of hoodie wearers, whether they wear personalised hoodies or otherwise, is the physical shape and design of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You’ll no doubt have observed signs in shop windows which read: ‘NO HOODS IN STORE’. The truth that hoodies have an, eponymous, hood might sound 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 contrary to the humble hoodie is a media construct, mixed with just a little bit of class snobbery and fear of the young…an unpleasant cocktail once you think about it.
Why not show that personalised hoodies are simply 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 prefer with them. Use personalised hoodies to show school pride, university affiliation and club membership.