This past winter saw a new trend referred to as “the quarter-zip movement,” which encouraged young men, specifically those in the Black community, to don the sweater instead of wearing athleisure or a typical hoodie.

It can be traced back to November 2025, with a TikTok video posted by Jason Gyamfi, where he referred to himself as a “quarter-zip dude” and poked fun at those who hadn’t made the fashion switch and still wore Nike Tech. A popular product line from Nike footwear and apparel company.

Many began to climb aboard the trend and make several videos about the quater-zip. The garment began to be associated with a sense of status, along with higher levels of professionalism. The playful banter continued between those who wear athleisure and those who prefer quarter-zips.

Social media isn’t where the trend stops, as public celebrations have been organized to celebrate the quarter-zip lifestyle. The Quarter-Zip Meet-Up in Houston’s CityCentre is a prime example of the power of the trend, demonstrating that it is not merely about clothing but also about fostering community. The meet-up was an opportunity for young men to connect on personal and professional levels away from screens.

As the trend continued to grow in popularity, it grew from a simple joke and manifested into a cultural and ideological shift within younger generations. However, with every movement and trend comes controversy. The quarter-zip movement is no exception.

At an event called the Chicago Quarter-Zip Link-Up, attendees were gathering to rejoice in their new sense of style and also to support local businesses that had been subjected to break-ins over the holiday season. The Chicago Quarter-Zip Link-Up was also a chance for participants to engage in genuine discussion and debate the effects of the quarter-zip, especially on Black men.

Participants brought up how many online critics don’t necessarily view the trend as a positive shift for the Black community. Instead, they view the fashion switch as a new order of respectability politics and as a method for young Black men to seem more acceptable or respectable to white society.

According to Dissent Magazine, respectability politics is defined as utilizing the dominant narrative of respectability to promote social change while also adhering to it for protection within a marginalized group. It began as a method to “uplift the race,” but quickly became a philosophy on managing Black people’s behavior.

A 2023 report done by the Pew Research Center revealed that while the U.S. has taken significant steps for racial equity, there is still a massive wealth divide between Black and white populations. As a result, modern respectability politics are often portrayed as methods to lift the Black poor out of poverty and prepare them for a neoliberal economic market that tends to leave them behind.

Some quarter-zip fanatics at the Chicago Quarter-Zip Link-Up and in online spaces defend the fashion trend. They say that their intention is not merely about showcasing fashion or fitting in, but also to signify a change in mindset and improve professionalism — especially when it comes to Gen Z.

Devon Marshall, a fourth-year in communication, brought up the importance of personal choice and identity when it comes to one’s attire.

“I believe to each his own, if you want to wear a Nike tech, you should be able to, and it shouldn’t be perceived as not being grown … I would say if you’re in a more professional spot, wear that quarter-zip and drink your matcha,” he said.

Some have drawn parallels between the quarter-zip movement and the revival of Black dandyism, saying that this change in fashion will have a positive effect on young men within the Black community.

Black dandyism refers to a political movement in fashion within the Black community, which started as a form of assimilation but eventually evolved to be a method of resistance to challenge stereotypes.

Cultural shifts in fashion are all too common in the age of social media. Sweaters and hoodies are not just pieces of fabric. What one wears has a great impact on not just others’ perceptions, but on one’s sense of self.