Discover the Origin of the Word "Sweatshirt"!
"Happy is he who can trace the causes of things."
Virgil "Publius Virgilius Maro"
Origin
Sweatshirt is a relatively recent term of English origin dating from the 1930s. In French-speaking countries, when referring to this style of clothing, it is most often shortened to "Sweat", "pull" or "Pullover".
"Sweat" meaning "perspiration", "Sweatshirt" can be translated as "jersey for sweating".
The name of this garment originated with American athletes who used it before, during, and after their training sessions. It was initially a garment exclusively for men.
Furthermore, even back then, it allowed for advertising clubs through logos or text printed on the garment. Embroidery appeared much later. In the advertising world, this is known as a "message sweatshirt".
American athletes are at the origin of this name
Some legends circulate about the origin of this garment, and I invite you to discover my article on the subject, including its most probable origin.
▶︎ The most probable origin of the Sweatshirt
Read this article
One certainty exists, however, regarding the origin of the hooded sweatshirt, also called a "hoodie" overseas, which was created in the 1930s by the company "Champion", which also developed a specific flocking process for this garment. This hoodie had a drawstring to tighten the hood.
The NASA hoodie, a must-have...
Discover this Sweatshirt
How to pronounce the word "Sweatshirt"?
To answer this question, here is a link for a perfect pronunciation of this word.
The correct pronunciation in English and American
You will find the pronunciation with the British English version and the American English version on the Cambridge Dictionary translation website.
▶︎ Pronunciation of the word Sweatshirt
What is a sweatshirt?
It is simply a long-sleeved garment, a thick knitted sweater, most often made of cotton, or a blend of cotton with polyester, rayon, or other materials.
One could say it's a long-sleeved T-shirt in a T-shape, pulled on over the head. This garment is notably slightly elastic at the neckline to facilitate passing the head through.
For those who don't know, rayon is an artificial fiber made from cellulose, i.e., wood pulp. Rayon is known as viscose or artificial silk and has properties similar to cotton while imitating silk. Not very elastic and prone to wrinkling, this material is soft and very absorbent. It drapes well, does not felt, is moth-proof, and does not pill.
Difference between a sweatshirt and a T-shirt
Two parameters radically differentiate them:
A sweatshirt is much thicker and, above all, looser.
In addition, it may or may not have a hood, also called a cowl, and a zipper.
The hoodie with a zipper
Discover this Hoodie
It is most often equipped with a pocket on the front, called a "kangaroo pocket", or two side pockets.
It is also most often made from a single piece of tubular jersey.
Louise from the NASA SHOP France team
