Traditionally associated with American jock culture, the varsity jacket has dominated wardrobes for the past 50 years. In this blog, we will be diving into the history of varsity jackets; what are they, who wears them and why. Read on to find out more…
What Are the Hallmarks of a Varsity Jacket?
A varsity jacket, also sometimes known as a “letterman” jacket, is a baseball-style jacket traditionally worn by high school and college students in the US to represent their school or team pride while displaying personal awards earned in athletics and academics.
The jackets are usually two-tone with the body of the jacket traditionally made from melton – a wool treated with hot water to make it dense and durable with a felted feel. The sleeves are typically leather or faux leather with striped ribbed cuffs to match the waistband and collar.
History of the Varsity Jacket
The term “varsity” originated as a shortening of the word “university” and quickly began to be used as a term for the principal squad representing a university, college, school or club, particularly in sport.
The first sign of the varsity apparel trend was amongst students at Harvard University in the 1860s. At the time, Harvard’s baseball team sported grey flannel pullovers, with the most notable players having a large “H” stitched into the front of their sweaters.
This letter marked the player as elite and was seen as incredibly prestigious; this is the first instance where a simple garment represented a blend of team spirit and personal achievement. It became the practice for the team captain to allow certain players who played in the most important games to keep the “H” jersey as an award; this was the birth of the varsity letter as an award.
In the 1930s, the letter award started to appear on leather-sleeved, wool-bodied jackets and the letter monogram was shifted from the centre to the left, the same as we see in modern varsity jackets today.
Varsity Jackets Today
From the 1980s, urban America began to transform the varsity jacket into an artistic symbol, particularly in the hip-hop scene. Pioneered by Michael Jackson after he wore a red and yellow varsity jacket in the “Thriller” music video, repping your local team’s colours and emblem became a symbol of taking pride in your home turf.
Since then, with the help of celebrities sporting varsity jackets in the media, the stereotype that varsity jackets should only be worn by sportspeople has been dismantled. Whether you play a sport or not, you can now confidently wear a varsity jacket and make it your own.
At My Printed Clothing, we offer a wide range of clothing items that are all available to be customised with embroidery today. You can even order your very own custom-embroidered varsity jackets for your university sports team or club in a selection of different colourways.
If you have any questions about our products or services, please don’t hesitate to contact us and a member of our team will be happy to help.
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