Quarter zips, quarter zips, quarter zips! Quarter zips, the “anti-sweatshirt” that typically comes in muted colors and a subtle cable-knit pattern, have become a new staple in many people’s closets amidst viral trending in the worlds of fashion and social media. What was once seen as a benign winter layer at middling department stores is now spreading fast — and doesn’t seem to be slowing down!
Many people have different thoughts on the fad, which first blew up on TikTok with a video by content creator Jason Gyamfi, who sports a quarter zip and says, “we upgraded in life,” spurring both positive and negative opinions. Quarter zips are considered more “elegant” and “polished” compared to most young people’s style choices, such as oversized t-shirts and Nike techs, the latter of which Gyamfi calls out by name in his viral post. The Nike tech community, in particular, has become notably known as the “rebellious” and more comfortable or casual choice with baggy sweatpants and sweatshirts, in contrast to the quarter zip crew, who have become known for prioritizing looking more “polite” with a smart business casual outfit.
This change-up has caused an uproar between the two communities, with both sides squabbling online about which fashion choice is better. The Nike tech wearers make videos on social media spouting off about how they won’t be wearing quarter zips, and as a countermeasure, the quarter zip community continues to embrace and post the fit. Much of this is in good nature, of course, with quarter zip wearers owning up to the claim of being “performative” with their wardrobe, perhaps even with a matcha in hand, though some seem to take the battle between styles quite seriously.
“I feel like quarter zips turn a lot of young men into well-mannered and productive individuals,” Jahzaya Michael (9) said.
Those who have found the trend funny, try to make their own viral fashion statement by posting parody Instagram Reels and TikToks highlighting Lululemon leggings, turtlenecks, onesies, etc of other fashion clothing. A big change when people started to follow the trend of quarter zips is it changed the mindset and image of wearing one. People who don’t wear them or don’t really care about the trend wonder why quarter zips are so popular and what’s so special about them? Wearing a quarter zip wasn’t just looking performative or professional — it was a lifestyle.
And while part of that lifestyle is showing how mature and gentleman-like its proponents are, not to mention the playful rivalry with Nike Tech tracksuits, which aren’t really formal or stylish by comparison, most of those “in on the joke” don’t believe there are racist undertones to the discourse. Fashion experts and quarter-zip enthusiasts on social media might play into the age-old stereotype that wearing big, baggy and comfortable clothing is indicative of immaturity, or even delinquency, but in reality, a quarter-zip is actually much more affordable than a Nike Tech tracksuit. So perhaps this trope can finally be put to bed, and the quarter-zip movement can help expedite it.
“The quarter zips offer a modern style, classy even,” Ahmed Nuh (12) said. “On the other hand, the Nike tech brings a wild look to the scene, offering versatile and comfortable options. I think the quarter zip movement pushes a solid modern smart look, especially in the black community. I think it fights stereotypes while bringing a clean look.”
The recent embrace of quarter zips among young people, and especially Black men, is a big change of the fashion trend, one big obvious thing that you can tell is the style change of how you see nike tech is all sweat pants and hoodies which is mostly athletic wear is out, and business casual clothing is in — what you would have once only worn if you were a millennial interviewing for an engineering job is now appropriate to wear for a house party or just to look nice in public at a restaurant or in school. Of course, as we move forward into 2026, the question remains: will the trend continue or become even more widespread — or, perhaps, like most fads, simply be dropped and forgotten?
