Boston Style: The Hooded Sweatshirt

The hooded sweatshirt, or hoodie, has long been an integral part of Boston culture and style. Just like the scally cap, hoodies have remained a defining aspect of the blue collar mentality Bostonians live by. While the scally (flat) cap has deep roots in the English working class, we made it our own anyway. The hooded sweatshirt, on the other hand, was created just for us: the working class—and we're damn proud of it.

Keeping up with tradition, Boston Scally Company manufactures the type of hoodie Boston locals love. A hooded sweatshirt that's soft and comfortable, but quality enough to support our hands-on approach to life. While we can go on about how awesome our hoodies are, we'd rather share a bit of history—at least for now. Take a look at what makes the hooded sweatshirt such a culture-defining piece of Boston.

Origins of the Hooded Sweatshirt

If you want to get technical, you could say the hoodie emerged back in Medieval Europe, when monks were sporting hooded tunics. The hood appeared in England as early as the 12th century, but it was a long road from monasteries to factories and shipyards, and the blue collar lifestyle. Fast forwarding to the 1930s, the hooded sweatshirt entered production in the United States, marketed toward laborers who had to work in the freezing conditions of upstate New York.

From the dark days of the 1930s, the hooded sweatshirt, later to be deemed "hoodie", quickly made its mark on Boston culture. It was versatile, warm, and roomy enough to wear while working hard. Along with the scally cap, the hooded sweatshirt has remained a defining aspect of the working class that Boston culture is built on.

By the 1970s, the hoodie's reach was spreading: it was equally useful for the chilly winds of the Pacific Northwest, and even Rocky was training in one! By the 90s, the term had hoodie stuck, and the article of clothing became a part of varying styles, from covering the backs of countless California surfers, midwestern punk-rockers, and hardscrabble New Yorkers, too.

The Hoodie as Our Own

Despite spreading across the US, and the world by now, we still claim the hoodie as our own here in Boston. The hoodie isn't so much a fashion statement here as it is a necessity, but it's also a part of our culture. Just like it provided warmth and mobility for the working class of the 1930s, today it does just the same. That's because we need something warm and comfortable that's versatile enough to let us get our hands dirty on the job, jump up and cheer a Patriot touchdown, or even keep us cozy on the couch during a lazy Saturday.

Whatever you call it and however it you wear it, the hoodie is for everyone. From hip-hop to skateboard culture, the hoodie is widely worn for a reason. It's versatile. It's comfortable. It's cool, and it's ready to sport your favorite slogan or sports team. More importantly, the hooded sweatshirt is a part of Boston style and that's why we've taken the time to perfect its design to provide comfortable hoodie for everyone.

Get a Part of Boston Today

These days, everyone owns a hooded sweatshirt, but not everyone owns a Boston hoodie. Built to last and keep you comfortable, our Boston Scally hoodies will be your new favorite sweatshirt. Take a look at our online selection and get a little piece of Boston today.

Got questions? You can contact us here.