Work Hoodies & Sweatshirts

The Work Sweatshirt

The sweatshirt as a work garment has made its way into sports and streetwear, and even today it is worn by workers in every sector. The sweatshirt, especially the iconic model with an open front pocket and hood (known as a hoodie in English, a term now familiar even in Italian), is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing.

It became popular as sportswear in the 1970s, and since the 1990s, it has been part of fashion and streetwear collections. However, the origins of the sweatshirt are firmly rooted in workwear. It is believed that the first cotton hooded sweaters appeared in the 1930s in the USA, designed for logistics workers in the cold warehouses and port depots of early 20th-century New York.

Nearly 100 years later, the descendants of those early sweatshirts are still one of the most used work garments, as well as a staple in the leisure wardrobes of practically everyone. The work sweatshirt is an extremely versatile garment, employed in a wide variety of sectors. They are warm and breathable, useful for those working outdoors or in cold or humid indoor environments. Soft and comfortable, they allow good freedom of movement; they are durable and withstand washing well, lasting a long time. And, a not insignificant detail for their popularity, they have a sporty style that makes them suitable for wearing even outside of work.

What is a sweatshirt?

The garment known as a sweatshirt gets its name from the material it is made of, which is a smooth knit cotton that is usually subjected to a special treatment on one side called brushing. Brushing is a mechanical process that "raises the nap" of the fabric, meaning it lifts the cotton fibers, making them fluffy and soft. This characteristic finish makes the inside of brushed garments very soft to the touch, enhancing the sense of comfort and warmth.

Winter and Mid-Season Work Sweatshirts

Brushed sweatshirts are typically the warmest and heaviest, particularly suited for the cold season. When choosing a winter work sweatshirt, in addition to the brushing, it is useful to check the fabric weight per square meter, a detail usually found in the technical sheets of work garments. The warmest sweatshirts often have a weight of about 330 g/m2, like the Sweatshirt Industry in full zip and half zip versions. However, even a lighter but brushed sweatshirt, like the models from the Litework line in 280 g/m2 cotton, offers warmth and protection for the cold season.

Unbrushed sweatshirts, as the name suggests, are made from smooth knit fabric that has not been brushed and therefore lacks the "warm" finish on the inside. They are generally lighter, both in terms of actual weight and their suitability for the mid-season. If you're looking for a work sweatshirt for spring, a good alternative is the lightweight interlock fabric sweatshirts, like the new Sweatshirt Crew Litework from Diadora Utility. Interlock material is a special double-knit fabric with a honeycomb structure, which gives it elasticity and an extremely comfortable fit. Crew is a slim, ergonomic sweatshirt, perfect for those looking for fitted but comfortable work clothes that do not obstruct and allow ample freedom of movement.

Work Sweatshirt: 100% Cotton or Blend?

As we have seen, the typical sweatshirt fabric is a cotton knit. However, the most functional and high-performance work sweatshirts are not made of 100% cotton but a blend of cotton and polyester. Cotton is an excellent material for workwear: it is breathable, robust, and gentle on the skin. However, a small percentage of polyester can compensate for some of cotton's less optimal characteristics: it makes the fabric non-deformable and more resistant to machine washing, which could cause shrinkage.

The Sweatshirt: With or Without Hood, Zip, and Pockets

When talking about sweatshirts, the most recognizable model immediately comes to mind: the classic sports sweatshirt with a hood and open front pocket, with or without a zip. This model blurs the lines between workwear and off-work attire, and can include special prints and finishes, such as the faded treatment of the new Sweatshirt Hoodie Urban, which gives the fabric a worn look.

While the hood proves extremely practical for protecting the head from the cold, for some, it can be an inconvenient and cumbersome extra. Depending on the type of job and the environment in which it is performed, some people find it more efficient and safer to wear hoodless sweatshirts that are less baggy, with a minimalist look like the new lightweight work sweatshirts from the Litework line, available in crew neck without zip (Crew Litework) and with elasticated collar and front zip (Zip Litework): without a hood, with ergonomic sleeves and a practical front pocket that can be closed with a zip, minimizing the risk of snagging and fitting comfortably in sizes from S to XL.