Help me find hoodies.

February 16, 2016 2:18 AM

I wear a lot of hoodies. But the ones I have left are worn to all hell. Help me find places on the Internet to buy new ones (specific criteria inside).

I tend to wear hoodies (pullover, not zip-up) a lot. But because I spend a lot of my time in the climbing gym, they tend to get perma-chalked and worn down. I'm about to buy some new ones. I could just go to Random Clothes Website, but I'm wondering if you know of any places where I could get hoodies that meet one or more of the following criteria:

1) Sold by some indie enterprise (coffee shop, record store, whatever) that needs the merch money.

2) Sold by a charity/good cause/non-profit (I know the definition of a good cause varies wildly from person to person, but I trust the hive mind not to recommend bullshit).

3) Bomb-proof, buy-one-and-wear-it-forever kind of quality.

For what it's worth, I don't care too much about what's actually on the hoodie. Cool/interesting designs a bonus, but not necessary (and even plain is fine).

posted by Fireland to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (8 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know what your standard is for indie cred but Topatoco has some nice hoodie designs; it's a collection of independent internet creators, mainly webcomic and podcast people. They generally screenprint on American Apparel hoodies, so if that meets your quality needs that's one option. (Topatoco About page)

Another option would be DFTBA records, originally set up by Hank Green it now sells merch for a variety of internet people, mostly Youtubers but also the Harry Potter Alliance, which would meet both your indie and charity requirements. They use a mix of different hoodie suppliers; it's noted on the product page for each one. Seems like mostly Independent Trading Co, American Apparel, and Gildan.
posted by Wretch729 at 4:54 AM on February 16, 2016

Best answer: American Giant hoodies are about as bomb-proof as you're going to find. Extremely high quality, for a big price. I've bought two as gifts, and been to their small shop in San Francisco's SOMA area, and they are nice people with very superior made-in-the-USA products.

previous answers
posted by blob at 5:04 AM on February 16, 2016 [5 favorites]

Seconding American Giant for reasons above as well as excellent customer service.
posted by mikek at 5:16 AM on February 16, 2016

Best answer: Can't speak to 1 or 2, but for #3 - Carhartt hoodies are ~$35 and extremely durable as they are work clothing. Amazon link.
posted by anti social order at 6:18 AM on February 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

i love my carharrt hoodie.
posted by PinkMoose at 8:19 AM on February 16, 2016

Thirding American Giant. My wife and I love our American Giant hoodies. Mine is close to two years old. I wear it almost every day and it still looks great.
posted by pombe at 9:01 AM on February 16, 2016

anti social order, thanks for the Carhartt tip, I love their stuff. But I'm going for something a little heaver: http://amzn.com/B00FXPSU7C
posted by james33 at 4:33 AM on February 17, 2016

Best answer: If you're a climber, you will fall in love with the Patagonia R1 Hoody. It ain't real fashionable and it's outrageously expensive, but it's what you'll want to be buried in. Absolute gold standard of midweight technical tops and that balaclava hood....oh lord that hood. It's got a stretchy lower part that covers your ass (or fold it up so it's normal length), so it'll stay put under a harness, just the right weight for active use across most temps, super duper cut for climbing, etc.

Also worth considering the Patagonia Capilene 4 hoody, or one of the ones by Icebreaker.
posted by woof at 10:42 AM on February 17, 2016