A Varsity jacket is a classy piece of garment. It gives you a sporty look and carries the whole American sports imagery with it. But what is a varsity jacket famous for? What is its origin? And are varsity jackets still in style, 2024? In this blog, we will explore why these letterman jackets are so iconic. For this, we will take a look at their history, origin, and evolution. In fact, we will also explore the customization options of today’s varsity coats along with branding and endorsements and some maintenance tips to wrap it all up. So, if you want to know all this, read till the very end. This blog is your guide around and about letterman university jackets. Here we begin!
History of Varsity Jacket
Because these jackets are iconic, they have a unique and rich history. You will be surprised to learn the origin of these jackets and how they became so popular over the years. But first, we would like to share that these jackets are also called “letterman jackets.” Why? Well, the initial design of these jackets had a big letter on the chest. When people saw it, they started referring to it as the ‘letterman jacket.’ With years, this name stuck and now most people know these jackets as letterman jackets. Additionally, you should know that initially, these jackets were made from only wool. However, now you have so many material options to make these jackets. How did this happen? We will discuss it all in this blog. But let’s take a look at the origin of these jackets first!
Origin of the Varsity Jacket
There is a reason that these jackets have a sporty look. And that reason lies in the origin – entirely so! After all, varsity jacket was first made for college athletes. Surprising, right? Let’s discuss the details of its origin:
First ever Varsity Jacket was worn by the Harvard University’s Baseball Team
In 1865, the baseball team of Harvard university came to play a match wearing a unique piece of garment. Clearly, this unique and iconic garment was Varsity Jackets. Because it gave the athletes a distinctive look, it instantly became everyone’s favorite. As aforementioned, the initial jackets only had wool as the material used for manufacturing them. On the chest of the first-ever varsity jacket was a big ‘H’ for Harvard.
“The varsity jacket has a rich history dating back to early 1865 when it was first worn by student athletes at Harvard University. Over time, it evolved from a symbol of athletic achievement to a fashion statement embraced by youth culture worldwide.” – Fashion Historian, Smithsonian Magazine
Did you Know? | According to rumors, it was the idea of Harvard University Baseball team players to embroider their jackets with big ‘H’ for Harvard. |
Because it was first worn by the athletes, varsity jacket instantly became a garment of enormous value. Clearly, back in the day, sports were the talk of the town. In fact, athletes were nothing short of celebrities – even the ones who only played for small university or college teams. So, when the athletes started wearing these jackets, it looked like a trophy that everyone wanted for themselves. Similarly, after seeing the athletes, even the cheerleaders started wearing these jackets in support of their teams. Even today cheerleaders wear tops with letters printed on the back and front – a stylish play on their initial attempt at wearing varsity jackets to show support for their favorite teams.
However, you should know that not all of the team players were allowed to keep their jackets. Sure, they could wear these during the match, but if their performance was down or they did not get to play much, then they had to return their jackets after the match was over. Thus, only the top-performing athletes could wear – and keep – these varsity bomber jackets.
Evolution of Style – How did Varsity Jackets become a trend?
According to history, the evolution of these letterman jackets is very diverse and dynamic. As for how it became a trend, let’s take a quick look at this subject. Well, as aforementioned, back in the day, athletes were nothing short of celebrities. So, when they started wearing these jackets, everyone wanted to wear them too. But as long as these athletes only wore their jackets inside the field, the trend was not born. The moment athletes started wearing these letterman jackets outside the field, it became an instant trend. The reason so many athletes started wearing these jackets outside the field was because they wanted to show a sense of pride – that they had the right to their own letterman jacket. Now, let’s get back to the evolution of these jackets. We will go on to discuss the major years that contributed to the evolution of these jackets.
“My varsity jacket is more than just a piece of clothing; it represents years of hard work, dedication, and unforgettable memories on the field. It’s a symbol of pride and accomplishment that I wear with honor.” – Harvard University Athlete.
Evolution in the Varsity Jacket style in early 1900s
After the baseball team of Harvard University, the football team also started wearing varsity jackets. And they had a similar rule. Only the top-performing athletes were allowed to keep their jackets, rest had to return theirs by the end of every match. Clearly, it enhanced the performance of many athletes. After all, all of them wanted to keep their jackets – it had become a symbol of pride. It gave them a sense of belonging. In fact, it was like a trophy that they could wear anywhere and everywhere.
Quick Fun Fact! | Even famous celebrities including Elvis Presley, James Dean, and Michael Jackson wore varsity jackets when the trend picked up. |
What’s more, when the RIVAL teams of Harvard football and baseball observed this unique garment, they jumped on the trend as well. Clearly, it was very catchy – spread like a wildfire among athletes and their peers. By the end of year, almost all the university teams and rival university teams were wearing Varsity Jackets with huge letters of their university’s initials stitched on the chest. Now, with almost every and any athlete wearing a varsity jacket, a distinctive feature was needed to separate the high-performing lot from the average players. So, another evolution in the style came to being:
- Adding Ranking star on Varsity Jackets
Athletes added a ranking system to their varsity jackets when they were normalized to a great degree. After all, if everyone was wearing these jackets now, there should be a feature or system to identify the best performers from the average ones. So, the athletes started embroidering stars on their jackets. Your rank – as an athlete – was readable from these stars. For example, if you had two stars on your jacket then you were clearly the captain of your team. This ranking trend was picked by almost all of the Ivy League Universities.
Ivy League Universities with Varsity Jacket Trend for Athletes |
Harvard |
Yale |
Pennsylvania |
Princeton |
Columbia |
Brown |
Dartmouth College |
Cornell |
Evolution in the Varsity Jacket style in early 1930
As aforementioned, in the past, you made varsity jackets with only wool. And the world is warm, but not warm enough to keep the chills of winter at bay. So, some athletes demanded alterations – they wanted a change of material in their varsity jackets, especially sleeves. Therefore, the universities and manufacturers complied with their requests. Soon, they started making varsity jackets with thick wool – underlining – and leather sleeves and pockets.
Quick Question 1: Are Varsity Jackets for winter or summer?
You can wear varsity jackets in all seasons. You can layer them for fall and winter, and you can also wear light-material ones for summer evenings. Most people wear their varsity jackets in the summer mornings as well, but that can be uncomfortable if the area temperature is too high during the day. If you style it as an accessory, you can wear it throughout the year.
Quick Question 2: What’s the difference between letterman and varsity jacket?
There is no difference! These are two different names for the same thing, whether you call it varsity jacket, varsity bomber jacket, letterman jacket, high school letterman jacket, university jacket, or sports team jacket – it is the same thing.
Are you aware? |
When the trend of varsity jackets picked up, coaches came up with a strange rule. According to this rule, not every player could have a letter on their varsity jacket. Sure, every player could wear these. But only the best ones had letters on their jackets. |
Evolution in the Varsity Jacket Popularity in 1980s
The popularity of these jackets peaked in the 1980s. Again, the reason behind popularity was athletes. But not local, university-level athletes. No! This time, the trend was picked up by the professional athletes of America. It all started when the professional franchises of American Sports started taking interest in these jackets as well. Here are the professional teams that made their own versions of the Varsity Jackets:
- Los Angeles Raiders
- New York Knicks
- Boston Celtics
You should also know that the suppliers also played their part in this. After all, they had started making satin versions of these jackets to contain the costs and expand the catchment area. In the 1980s, professional athletes wore these jackets and made them a pop-culture thingy. Evidently, these jackets became a hot topic for sport fans and the general audience – even fashion enthusiasts. For example, when people saw their favorite players in these jackets, they also started wearing these on game nights. After all, it helped them show which teams and players they supported – with pride.
Furthermore, even the mainstream culture welcomed these jackets with open arms. You should also know that Michael Jackson wore a red and gold varsity jacket with an “M” on the chest in the video for “Thriller”. And because he had – and has – a big fan following, the popularity peaked more. All of his fans wanted a jacket like his. They HAD to have a jacket like his. The heart throb of that time, Michael Jackson is a big name behind why these jackets are so iconic – even today. What’s more, even fashion magazines raved on and on about him wearing a varsity jacket – it was a hot topic from every point of view.
Hip Hop Culture Welcoming Varsity Jackets.
You can say that this was the turning point in varsity jacket history – in a good way. Clearly, hip hop culture welcomes these jackets with open arms. And why wouldn’t it? These jackets were instantly popular and loved by everyone.
Hollywood artists started wearing these jackets as their signature looks. In fact, in teen movies, the cast is always wearing varsity jackets to look young and teenage-ey. This hip hop welcoming made these jackets streetwear. Sure, the origin of these jackets was sporty, but now these jackets were a fashion statement – an everyday wearable.
Customization Options in Varsity Jackets Today
Now that you know varsity jacket history, let’s explore the customization options. Now we will discuss the available options you have in customization if you are planning to buy a high school letterman jacket yourself. Here we begin:
Material and Style Customization:
As far as the material option goes, here are your choices for customizing the varsity jacket:
Cotton Fleece | Cotton Twill | Cowhide Leather |
Sheep Leather | Polyester Satin | Melton Wool |
And as for the style options, you can choose between the following:
Style options for Varsity Jackets | |
Element | Style Options |
Front Closure | Buttons/Zip |
Sleeves | Set-in/Raglan |
Knitting | Stitching Variety |
Inside | Lining Choice |
Hoodie | Add/Eliminate |
Color Customization in varsity jacket
Usually, and throughout history, two colors are the most a varsity jacket can have. But, if you want to add more dimension to your jacket and make it look trendier and more eye-catching, then you can even have three color options. Moreover, you have the choice to select your favorite colors for the jacket.
NOTE:Most people like to use the colors of their high school or organization in their varsity jackets. It gives a branded look to their jacket and brings them a sense of pride and belonging. |
You also have the choice to use any colors for the body and sleeves. However, most people leave the sleeves of these jackets white – it makes the jacket pop. Undoubtedly, white sleeves make the jackets look better and trendy. The following are some elements of varsity jackets that you can have customization color options for:
Buttons | Inside Lining | Zippers | Knit Border |
Knit Lines | Kint Base | Pockets | Hood |
If you want to customize your jacket and make it look amazing, then please keep it in mind that you need to select the colors that complement each other. To put it simply, you need to select the colors that go along with each other – are contrasting. If the colors are clashing, then they will destroy the overall look of your jacket. White is the safest option with every other color option. This is why most people leave the sleeves of their jackets white. What’s more, you can also use different shades of the same color: one dark and one light. The trick is to use soft colors with vibrant ones to give your varsity jacket the right color dimension and look.
Overall Design Customization
When these jackets were first introduced, you did not have many customization options. The jacket was made of wool and had a letter embroidered on the front center. But with evolution and time, there are so many customization options available now. In fact, designing a varsity jacket is unleashing your creativity. We are going to discuss the elements and aspects of these jackets and how you can best customize them. So, read attentively. It will help you take your varsity jacket a notch up.
Front Center | College/Organization Name – any font |
Pockets | Patches, symbols, or letters – any font |
Sleeves | The logo of your organization or college |
Back Center | Team mascot or your name – any font |
Detailed Discussion of Design Customization
- Front Center: In this area of varsity jackets, you can write the name of your college or organization. And you can use any desired font for it – the choice is yours. However, try to use a font that is readable even from a greater distance.
- Pockets: You can add sports, academic, and commemorative patches on the pockets. These reflect your performance – as was the starting rule when these jackets picked up popularity. Moreover, you can also add letters in this area. Or you can use it to add logos and symbols. Whatever you decide to do, just try not to overdo it. When it comes to varsity jackets, minimal customization brings the maximum look.
- Sleeves: The trend for varsity jacket sleeves is to keep them blank and plain – and in white color. But if you want to add a touch of personalization, you can add the logo of your college or organization here. In fact, you can also use this area to add your graduation year like so many other people. And if you want to go more creative with this area, you can add symbols and badges here.
- Back center: It is the area that can truly make your jacket stand out. So, you must be very creative while you customize it. If you are part of a team, you can add the mascot or you can simply put your name here. If you do, you also have the option to either use your full name or just the first three initials. What’s more, you can also add your favorite number here. Undoubtedly, the trick is not to overdo it. You have the option to choose any font if you go with a name/ letter – select a font that is readable yet stylish.
Branding and Endorsements using Varsity Jacket
Thanks to their popularity, varsity jackets are an effective method of branding and endorsements. EVEN IF THE PLAN IS SMALL SCALE, the marketing with these jackets is very effective and efficient. Now we are going to discuss why you need to use these custom letterman jackets for brand promotion and marketing endorsements. After all, what benefits could these jackets bring you in terms of marketing? Let’s find out:
- More Exposure for the Organization
When you wear these jackets and interact with people, it automatically translates to more exposure. Moreover, this exposure is not limited – not to only a particular part of society or only a certain social circle. Clearly, it is visible to everyone. Additionally, you should know that people pay handsomely to wear apparel, clothing, and jackets with company logos on them. When students wear these jackets, it brings more culture to the organization as well. So, if you provide the students/employees with custom varsity jackets, they will get your organization a positive exposure. The people will take notice of your organization through them. Ultimately, it will force them to be part of the same organization.
- Cost-effective marketing Solution
Proper marketing demands hefty costs! And even if you do the investment towards marketing, it is not a risk-free venture. But you can do marketing in a risk-free way without any hefty costs with varsity jackets. How? Well, you can place bulk orders for these jackets and simply distribute these among employees, students, or anyone really. The exposure will build your marketing and you will not have to invest in other marketing stunts. For example, shooting a minute long advertisement, distributing the reels, buying time slots on television channels, and paying for the airtime. Thus, it is a very affordable marketing solution.
- Builds the branded image to audience
The main reason people use varsity jackets for branding and endorsements is because they provide uniformity by being a creative brand outlet. You should know that most of these colleges get admissions by distributing these jackets among the graduating classes. When the students see graduates wearing these jackets, they make it a point to apply in the related college/organization as well. Besides, students share the images of their graduation on their socials. The more people see their pics, the more branded the image your organization gets.
Key Takeaway:
Varsity Jacket is effective for branding and endorsements. After all, it is a risk-free and affordable marketing solution that brings you desired exposure and builds your brand.
Need Maintenance tips to protect your Varsity Jacket?
Varsity jackets have been popular for decades – and are still going strong. Clearly, the classic look of these jackets is perfect for any and every occasion. You can style this jacket with any piece of garment you own – if you do it right. In fact, you can even wear it to casual parties and formal events alike. After all, it is a symbol of excellence and achievement – a true source of pride. But how do you care for and maintain it?
While customization is the fun and easy part, the real trick is to care for and maintain your varsity jacket. After all, there is a high chance that you will damage or stain the fabric if you are not careful and considerate enough. So, to help you with this as well, we are sharing a few tips that are more than amazing.
7 Effective tips for maintaining appeal of varsity jackets
Just keep these tips pinned to the back of your mind and your varsity jacket will have such a longer lifespan. Here we begin:
Tip 1: Always spot clean your varsity jacket
If you accidentally spill anything on your jacket, you need to spot the stain immediately with a clean and highly absorbent cloth. Moreover, you need to rub this cloth gently over the stain to lift it. In fact, try to do it in a circular motion for better results. You can also apply a small amount of detergent if the stain is difficult to remove. Afterwards, rinse it with warm water and let it dry out.
Tip 2: Try to hand wash your letterman jacket
If you want your jacket to look new for a long time, then you need to hand wash it periodically. For this, you can simply fill a sink or basin with cool water and add a mild detergent. Then, gently swish the jacket around in this water and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes minimum. Afterwards, rinse it thoroughly with cool water and let it dry. Clearly, this will help you protect the fabric of your letterman jacket.
Tip 3: Protect it from extreme temperatures
Undoubtedly, extreme temperature easily damages the fabric of varsity jackets – and every other clothing. So, you need to store the jacket in a cool and dry place when you are not wearing it. You can also wear a coat over it if you are outside in freezing weather. After all, it will help you keep it protected from the elements.
Tip 4: Carefully iron your letterman jacket
You should know that ironing a letterman jacket is not that different from ironing a regular piece of clothing. But you need to be extra careful while you do it. Why? Well, the varsity jacket has custom printing on it. So, the last thing you need is an iron to damage the letters or numbers on your jacket. Therefore, use a low setting on your iron and place a piece of cloth in between the iron and the jacket. Also, you need to iron the jacket only when it is necessary – do it too often and you will damage the material.
Tip 5: Protect it from extra sharp objects
There is a high chance that your varsity jacket might come in contact with sharp objects like pencils and pens – even knives and keys. So, you have to be careful that these sharp objects do not tear the jacket. After all, no matter how high-quality the material is, sharp objects can tear it easily.
Tip 6: Avoid folding when your store it
If you are not actively wearing your varsity jacket, make sure you store it properly. First, you need to hang it in a cool, dry place. And most importantly, please avoid folding if you want to protect the print from fading and damage. Besides, folding also damages the fabric of garments. Even if you must fold it, then do so in half – lengthwise. And before you store or fold it, make sure that you empty the pockets.
Tip 7: Get it professionally cleaned
Although it is good to handwash the varsity jacket periodically, it is better to leave the task to professionals altogether. After all, they have the expertise and experience – even the cleaning solutions – to wash your jacket without destroying the appeal or fabrics. Besides, it is way better than putting the jacket in a washing machine – no matter how advanced.
Do’s ✅ | Don’ts ⚠ |
Hand wash | Machine wash |
Spot Clean | Toxic Detergents |
Dry Store | Rough Folding |
Ending thoughts
The history of varsity jackets is very dynamic and diverse. First, the local athletes of Harvard University’s baseball team started wearing these jackets, and then the trend picked up amazingly. Every team and student wanted to wear a varsity jacket.
Moreover, through the years, the style and design of these jackets have evolved a great deal. Back in the day, there were not many material or customization options. But today you can customize your jacket any way you want – and use any material for manufacturing.
What’s more, you can also use these jackets for effective branding and endorsements. It is a work-proven marketing strategy that gets your brand the right exposure and visibility without any hefty costs or risks attached.
Lastly, to protect the brilliance and appeal of these jackets, you need to put proper care towards the maintenance. For example, you cannot fold these jackets or roughly wash them in washing machines, or else you will damage the fabric and destroy the print.