How the GAP Hoodie Became a Global Icon

Emma Chamberlain

Few fashion pieces have had as much of a chokehold on culture as the GAP Logo Hoodie. Since its debut in 1995, the classic arch has been worn, remixed, and reinterpreted by generations (from the original fleece fanatics of the ‘90s to today’s creators redefining comfort as cool). What started as a simple logo moment turned into a global symbol of nostalgia and self-expression, making its mark across music, fashion, and everyday life.

This October, the GAP Logo Hoodie officially turns 30, and it’s getting the celebration it deserves. Over the past three decades, the hoodie has gone from campus staple to cultural artefact (an icon that connects past and present with one simple word stitched across the chest). And while the style itself hasn’t changed much, the energy around it has. In 2025, the hoodie isn’t just about comfort; it’s about confidence, connection, and creativity.

The hoodie’s appeal lies in its versatility. It’s been worn by everyone. Artists on stage, students in lecture halls, parents running errands, and designers reimagining it for the runway. It’s been cropped, oversized, layered, and tied around waists. It’s the kind of piece that doesn’t belong to a single trend or generation but instead, it evolves with the people wearing it. That’s what makes it timeless.

And part of that timelessness comes from how personal it feels. Everyone has their own GAP hoodie story. Whether it was borrowed from a sibling, thrifted years later, or bought new just to relive the nostalgia. It’s a piece that holds memories, yet somehow always feels current. That’s the beauty of it: the hoodie may have started as fleece, but it’s become a cultural connector that continues to bridge generations, styles, and stories.

Today, the GAP hoodie still carries that same effortless cool. It’s familiar and quietly iconic