UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s notorious advice that people should all ‘hug a hoodie’ has been much publicised and discussed. After the London riots it has come under scrutiny again. Hoodies, certainly on the list of older generation, have evolved all sorts of negative connotations. Many teenagers, however, don’t realize why this should be so.
For many totally law-abiding young people, the humble hoodie is really a warm, comfortable clothing choice and nothing more. Personalised hoodies have become especially popular among the younger generation, being a great way to show your support for a club, team, group or cause. Lots 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 real ones who make it in to 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 imply 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, may help the older generations to realise that the image of the dangerous, out-of-control youngsters in hoodies, is not the norm.
Louis Tomlison Merch which can make people cautious with hoodie wearers, if they wear personalised hoodies or otherwise, is the physical shape and design of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You will no doubt have seen signs in shop windows which read: ‘NO HOODS IN STORE’. The truth that hoodies have an, eponymous, hood may appear obvious but it is something can make people nervous because 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. While you are unable to see the faces of large groups it can seem scary because of the lack of human connection. Mostly, however, this prejudice against the humble hoodie is really 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 simply as fun, lovable, stylish and friendly because the next item of clothing. Since personalised hoodies are fully customisable it is possible to spread any message you like with them. Use personalised hoodies to demonstrate school pride, university affiliation and club membership.