A Hoodie and A Sweatshirt: 20+ Differences between

Hoodies and Sweatshirts are two of the widely used winter and sportswear. Hardly would there be anyone who has not worn a Hoodie or a Sweatshirt. While wearing a Hoodie or a Sweatshirt, you must have wondered how they are different since they seem so alike.

Do not worry! You are not alone. Most people do not know the difference between a Hoodie and a Sweatshirt. The major difference between the two is that a Hoodie has a hood while the latter does not.

Comparison Between A Hoodie And A Sweatshirt

Parameter	Hoodie	Sweatshirt
Emergence	Hoodies originated after the origin of Sweatshirts. The traces of the emergence of Hoodies dates back to the 1930s.	Sweatshirts originated before the emergence of Hoodies. The traces of the emergence of Sweatshirts dates back to the year 1926.
Manufacturer	Champion, a USA company, made the first-ever Hoodie.	Benjamin Russel Jr., a footballer, was the reason behind creating the first-ever Sweatshirt.
Meaning	A sweatshirt type clothing but with a hood.	A loose sweater type of clothing that is very soft.
Material	Hoodies make use of thinner fabrics in comparison with Sweatshirts.	Sweatshirts make use of thicker fabrics in comparison with Hoodies.
Warmth	They provide less warmth than a Sweatshirt.	They provide more warmth than a Hoodie.
Hood	The Hood is the classic feature of a Hoodie.	They do not have a hood.
Drawstring	They have a drawstring that adjusts the hood for comfort and head size.	They have neither a hood nor a drawstring.
Cuffing detailing	In hoodies, the cuffing detail is present only at the end of the sleeves.	In sweatshirts, the cuffing detail is present at the collar and end of sleeves.
Zippers and buttons	It is common for Hoodies to have zippers and buttons, but in some cases, they might not be present.	Typically, Sweatshirts do not have zippers and buttons.
Wearing anything under	In a fashion sense, wearing a shirt or t-shirt under a Hoodie does not look good.	T-shirts and shirts under Sweatshirts look very classy.
Suitable for events	They are suitable for casual and informal outings. They are not ideal for formal events.	They are suitable for both formal and informal outings.
Worn by	Teenagers and young adults largely wear them.	They are worn by people of all ages ranging from teenagers to middle-aged people.

Major Differences Between A Hoodie And A Sweatshirt

What exactly is a Hoodie?

Hoodies are one of the most popular clothing largely worn by teenagers. They are very comfortable and provide a quite cool look. The classic feature of a Hoodie is that it has a hood or a cap. The traces of the invention of Hoodies can be found as early as the 1930s.

It is believed that the first ever Hoodie was made by one of the USA’s companies, Champion. This clothing gained a lot of popularity, especially during the 1970s. From then till today, they remain popular.

Features of Hoodies

Hoodies are believed to have originated during the 1930s.
A USA company Champion made the first-ever Hoodie.
They gained wide popularity, especially during the 1970s.
The unique feature of Hoodies that distinguishes them from other similar clothing is that they have hoods or caps.
They provide moderate warmth and are largely worn by teenagers and young adults.
They usually have buttons and zippers, but they may or may not be present.
They have hoods attached to their colors. Thus unlike sweatshirts, they do not have cuffing detailing at the collars.

Key Differences: Hoodie

The main characteristic of a Hoodie is that it is just like a Sweatshirt or a sweater but with a Hood.
Compared with a Sweatshirt, Hoodies are generally made of a thinner fabric.
Since Hoodies are made of a thinner fabric, they provide less warmth than a Sweatshirt.
A Hoodie is generally not worn in formal outings.

What exactly is a Sweatshirt?

Sweatshirts are another widely popular means of clothing. They are very similar to Hoodies, but unlike Hoodies, they do not have hoods present. The traces of the origin of Sweatshirts take us back to the 1920s, precisely 1926.

Benjamin Russel Jr. is known as the man behind the invention of sweatshirts. Sportspeople, as well as people, wear these pieces of clothing during working out. Unlike Hoodies, Sweatshirts can also be worn on formal outings.

Features of Sweatshirts

Sweatshirts are believed to have originated in 1926.
A footballer, Benjamin Russel Jr., is known as the man behind the origin of sweatshirts.
Crew-neck sweater-type clothing without a hood is known as Sweatshirts.
Since they do not have hoods, they have cuffing detailing at the collar area.
They provide high warmth and are worn by people of all ages.
They generally do not have any types of buttons or zips.
They can be worn in formal as well as informal outings.

Sweatshirt

A Sweatshirt is a basic sweater without any hood.
In comparison with Hoodies, Sweatshirts are made up of a thicker fabric.
Since Sweatshirts are made of thicker fabric, they provide more warmth than a Hoodie.
Sweatshirts can be worn on formal outings.

The Contrast Between A Hoodie And A Sweatshirt

Origins

Hoodies – They are estimated to have originated during the 1930s.

Sweatshirts: They are estimated to have originated during the 1920s, particularly in 1926.

Manufacturer

Hoodie – A USA company, Champion, manufactured the first-ever Hoodie.

Sweatshirt: A footballer, Benjamin Russel Jr., is known as the man behind manufacturing the first-ever Sweatshirt.

Meaning

Hoodie – A sweatshirt-like clothing that has the presence of a hood.

Sweatshirt – A simple, sober warm clothing with a crew neck. Sweatshirts were also considered a piece of sports clothing because, in the past, they were traditionally worn by sportspersons.

Material

Hoodies – Compared to Sweatshirts, they are mainly made from a thinner fabric. The main fabrics used in making Hoodies are cotton lycra, french terry, etc.

Sweatshirts – They are primarily made from a thicker fabric than Hoodies. The main materials used in making Sweatshirts are french terry, fleece, cotton, and jersey knit.

Warmth

Hoodies – They are known to provide less warmth than a Sweatshirt.

Sweatshirts – They are known to provide more warmth than a Hoodie.

Hood

Hoodie – The presence of hoods is the classic feature of Hoodies.

Sweatshirt – They do not have hoods.

Drawstring

Hoodie – A drawstring is present in Hoodies so that people can adjust the hoods as per their head and comfort.

Sweatshirt – Sweatshirts do not have a Hood; thus, no drawstrings.

Cuffing detailing

Hoodie – Hoodies generally have cuffing detailing only at the end of the sleeve.

Sweatshirt – Along with the end of the sleeves, Sweatshirts also have cuff detailing at the collar region.

Zippers and buttons

Hoodie – Hoodies generally have the presence of zippers and buttons. But in some cases, they may be absent.

Sweatshirt – Sweatshirts generally do not have any zippers or buttons.

Shirts under

Hoodie – One can not wear a shirt or t-shirt under a Hoodie due to the presence of a Hood.

Sweatshirt – Sweatshirts look pretty awesome when paired with t-shirts or shirts under them.

Informal/ Formal

Hoodie – Hoodies generally do not match formal events/outings. They are the first choice in casual, fun, or informal outings.

Sweatshirt – Sweatshirts can be used for both informal and formal outings.

Worn by

Hoodie – Teenagers and young adults are the prominent users of Hoodies.

Sweatshirt – Sweatshirts can be worn by people of all ages ranging from teenagers to middle-aged adults.

Conclusion

The terms Hoodies and Sweatshirts cause a lot of confusion and, most of the time, are used interchangeably.

Both types of clothing have several similarities, but it is wrong to think they are the same. The major difference between a Hoodie and a Sweatshirt is that the former does have a hood while the latter does not.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. When did Hoodies and Sweatshirts emerge?

Hoodies came into existence after the emergence of Sweatshirts. But typically, there is not much time gap between the emergence of Hoodies and Sweatshirts.
For example, hoodies are thought to have emerged during the 1930s. On the other hand, Sweatshirts are thought to have emerged in 1926.

Q2. Why can one not wear shirts or t-shirts under Hoodies?

One should not wear a shirt or a t-shirt under a Hoodie just because of the style. Due to the presence of a hood, anything worn under it does not look good as one does in Sweatshirts. However, if you feel comfortable wearing one, you should.

Q3. What are the major differences between a Hoodie and a Sweatshirt?

The major differences between a Hoodie and a Sweatshirt are as follows:
1. Both are a piece of sweatshirts, but what distinguishes a Hoodie from a Sweatshirt is the presence of a hood in Hoodies.
2. Hoodies are generally made from a thinner fabric, while Sweatshirts are generally thicker.
3. Hoodies provide moderate warmth, whereas Sweatshirts provide high warmth.
4. Hoodies normally work for casual and informal outings, while Sweatshirts work for formal and informal ones.
5. Teenagers and young adults frequently wear Hoodies, while people of all ages wear Sweatshirts.