Have you converted to quarter-zip-ism?
What was once a semi-professional fashion piece has transformed into a viral internet trend. The men are ditching Nike Techs and, instead, are channeling their inner professional, drinking matcha, and rocking quarter zips.
Why are young people wearing quarter zips now?
The quarter zip trend began when Jason Gyamfi posted a now viral TikTok with the text “we don’t do Nike techs and coffee no more” on Nov. 5. Gyamfi and his friend Richard Minor sported quarter zips while drinking Blank Street matcha, making the claim “we upgraded in life.”
Stemming from this TikTok, young people, mostly males, began hopping on the trend, posting TikToks wearing quarter zips and drinking matcha. These videos have amassed millions of views, some outperforming the original post.
Beyond quarter zips, men have begun incorporating more accessories into the trend, like lanyards.
Others have created storylines from the trend. In a TikTok skit with over 4 million likes, a girlfriend has her boyfriend drink matcha that slowly morphs him from a Nike Tech-wearer into a quarter zip-wearer.
Are young people actually beginning to flaunt quarter zips outside of the internet? A quick look around Seton Hall just might convey a clear answer.
Quarter zips vs. Nike Techs
Quarter zips have always been in style, according to Jalen Pierre, a junior business major, and Connor Brown, a sophomore sports management and pre-law major.
Pierre said he’s been wearing quarter zips well before they became a trend online, saying it has “100%” a staple in his wardrobe.
“I’ve had quarter zips since my senior year of high school,” Pierre said. “I feel that for professional development and for other important events, it is important to dress well to impress people.”
Brown has had a similar experience. Like Pierre, he also has been a regular quarter zip-wearer, as they increase his confidence.
“When I show up to class in sweats and stuff like that, it makes me feel like I'm a little lazy and tired,” Brown said. “So when I put [quarter zips] on, it makes me feel more confident about myself and my abilities.”
Brown also emphasized the coziness and convenience of quarter zips.
“They're comfy,” Brown said. “You can find them for cheap.”
Despite Pierre’s use of quarter zips as a way of dressing to impress, he also said he would “definitely” put on a quarter zip and order a matcha latte, specifically a “matcha latte with oat milk and sweet cream,” which “will always be [his] top drink.”
Pierre said the trend could be beneficial for those “trying to broaden [their] horizons,” and for those looking to appear more professional.
“We understand that it’s a dress to impress world, and making a good impression is important,” Pierre said. “Therefore, adding a quarter zip to your wardrobe gives the impression that you are here for business and mean it.”
Brown made sure to add that, when choosing between quarter zips and Nike Techs, he’d go with “quarter zips all the way,” but some students disagree with the notion.
Unlike Brown and Pierre, Jean Kitivi, a junior criminal justice major, was wearing a Nike Tech and said “I’ve been rocking a Nike Tech since a kid, so I will always stand on that hill.”
However, Kitivi didn’t stray away from hopping on the quarter zip trend, saying he bought his first quarter zip as part of an ALO set.
“I like the quarter zip beyond the trend and being trendy,” Kitivi said.
Women weigh in
Valentina Polidoro, a sophomore finance major, frequently wears quarter zips herself.
“I find them really comfortable,” Polidoro said. “I have multiple quarter zips, and I wear them a lot for work. I work with Pirate Sports Network [PSN], so they kind of just look pretty classy when I wear them.”
Working in a professional environment, Polidoro said that she sees men often wearing quarter zips.
“I have seen a lot more men wear them since the trend came out,” Polidoro said. “I mean, they look nice and they're comfortable…but I have noticed a lot more people wear them since they became trendy.”
Being from Philadelphia, Polidoro has seen her fair share of men wear Nike Techs and calls the transition to quarter zips “interesting.”
“I feel like men are wearing them more because they see other people doing it and getting attention from that,” Polidoro said.
Polidoro said she doesn’t discriminate against men who wear one piece over the other.
“Wear whatever you want—I don’t care,” Polidoro said.
Faith Hawileh, a sophomore nursing major, also wears quarter zips in professional settings and noticed her friends purchasing quarter zips in light of the trend.
“All of my friends actually have quarter zips now,” Hawileh said. “I think it makes them look a lot more professional and put together.”
Hawileh hopes to see men continuing to wear quarter zips, but for a different reason than the notion behind the trend.
“I hope they end up [wearing quarter zips] for themselves instead of for the female gaze,” Hawileh said.
Performative male or just a trend?
The performative male is “a man who engages stereotypically ‘sensitive’ activities to appeal to women,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Although the trend fits the performative male mold, Brown said he thinks the trend is more of a positive thing for young men.
“I think that [this trend] means that our generation is moving towards professionalism in the workplace where appearance matters,” Brown said. “No matter what category you're appealing to, whether it’s professors, professionals, women—we're…coming around to [wearing professional attire] as a culture.”
Pierre feels similarly, but said it does place the trend into the performative male category.
“This could definitely play on [the performative male] trend that has been going on for the past few months, and the quarter zip as opposed to drinking matcha or listening to Clairo or wearing tote bags is a little bit more realistic,” Pierre said. “This one fits [the performative male] pretty well—it’s a good one.”
Kitivi believes that the trend is a mix between men taking on the persona of a performative male and also men simply wanting to improve their appearance.
“Some men are doing it just for themselves to, you know, look more like men,” Kitivi said. “Others I feel like when the females are, like, hyping up the trend saying they like a man in a quarter zip, that's what makes other men start to buy into that trend.”
In or out?
Quarter zips have been part of fashion for nearly a century. According to The Guardian, modern zippers were invented in the 1930s and, shortly after, “the concept of quarter-zipped fleeces quickly became popular in the sportswear industry as it allowed wearers to self-regulate their temperature by opening and closing the neckline.”
Do young people think those who purchased quarter zips will continue to flaunt the clothing wear as the trend dies down online? Their consensus varies.
Brown said that after the weather warms up, he believes people will ditch their quarter zips.
“We want to be warm, we want to feel comfortable and don't want to be cold,” Brown said. “But once it comes springtime and cold weather and the gray clouds go away, I think that it's going to be back to normal.”
Pierre disagreed, as he said not only does he believe quarter zips have been in style long before the TikTok trend, but he also believes they will continue to be a staple, especially because “[he’s] aware that the business world embraces quarter zips, specifically brands like Patagonia and Ralph Lauren.”
In opposition to Pierre’s position, Kitivi said he doesn’t think those who bought quarter zips for the trend will continue to wear them, but, for him, he “might.”
“I might [keep wearing them] for professional settings and when I just feel like wearing it,” Kitivi said.
Not to confuse the people, Kitivi was sure to emphasize his stance on quarter zips as opposed to Nike Techs, saying, “Nike Techs forever.”
Lakyn Austin is the head editor for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at lakyn.austin@student.shu.edu.
