Sweatshirt
A soft, usually long-sleeved pullover made from warm knit fabric, commonly worn for casual comfort or exercise.
French terry: A knit fabric with smooth loops on one side and uncut loops on the other. Its looped interior absorbs moisture while keeping many sweatshirts lighter than fleece.
Benjamin Russell Jr.: An American football player credited with inspiring the first cotton practice sweatshirt in the 1920s. His discomfort with wool football jerseys prompted his father’s company to develop a cotton alternative.
Track jacket: A lightweight athletic jacket, usually made from synthetic knit fabric and designed for training or warm-ups. Unlike a pullover sweatshirt, it opens at the front for adjustable ventilation and layering.
College fashion: Clothing styles associated with students, universities, and collegiate imagery. Campus lettering and school colors turned sweatshirts into markers of educational affiliation.
Fleece fabric: A soft textile with a raised, insulating surface, often made from polyester or brushed cotton. Brushed fleece gives many sweatshirts their warm, soft interior.
Russell Athletic: An American sportswear company founded in 1902 as the Russell Manufacturing Company. The company produced the early cotton sweatshirt associated with Benjamin Russell Jr.
Quarter-zip pullover: A pullover top with a short zipper extending from the collar toward the chest. Its adjustable neck opening offers a layerable alternative to the sweatshirt’s fixed neckline.
Hip-hop fashion: Clothing styles shaped by hip-hop artists, communities, and cultural expression. Oversized sweatshirts became prominent in hip-hop styles from the late twentieth century onward.
Raglan sleeve: A sleeve that extends in one piece to the garment’s neckline, creating a diagonal seam from underarm to collar. Raglan seams are a common sweatshirt construction that allows broad shoulder movement.
Champion (clothing brand): An American sportswear brand founded in 1919 and known for athletic clothing and knitwear. Champion helped popularize durable sweatshirts for teams, schools, and everyday wear.