New York Times: Why Are Young Men Embracing the Quarter-Zip Lifestyle?

[RamsayBolton]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/style/quarter-zip-sweater-men-tiktok.html

Two weeks ago, Jason Gyamfi pulled on a sweater, held out his arm and declared a major life change. In a front-facing video that has well over a million likes on TikTok, Mr. Gyamfi, 21, looks into the camera and explains that he will no longer be wearing his former go-to sweatsuits.

“I don’t do that Nike Tech stuff that y’all little boys do,” Mr. Gyamfi says in the video as he smooths out his navy quarter-zip sweater, a style that hasn’t been favored by the fashion-conscious set for years. “I’m elegant, I’m classy, feel me? Like, you can take me somewhere; I look presentable.”

Almost overnight, there were young men at malls, meeting up in parking lots, hanging out on their school campus — men who might have previously been wearing sweatsuits, loungewear or Nike Tech suits — all sporting quarter-zip sweaters. T-Pain posted a picture on Instagram in a similar knitted sweater with the caption “401k and a quarter zip.”

“You’ve got that professional business-casual look with the matcha, it creates a whole different vibe,” said Mr. Hashimi, who said his quarter-zip style icon was Shah Rukh Khan. “It’s a funny way of reinventing yourself.”

For all his talk of personal reinvention, Mr. Gyamfi said it would be unwise to read too much into any pivot. “I don’t think necessarily there’s a difference between wearing a Nike Tech or a quarter zip because the clothes don’t make the man, the man makes the clothes,” he said.

 

[TELL ME YA CHEESIN FAM?]

Washed up Media dikk eating the wave

 

[Sir Richard Spirit]

long sleeve polos only.. broke ass boys keep them quarter zips.

 

[DJ Paul's Arm]

I went to dikks Sporting Goods a few days ago and the first thing I see when I walked in were a bunch of Quarter zip sweaters from all angles being displayed on mannequins and whole wall displays of all colors.

 

[RamsayBolton]

Washed up Media dikk eating the wave

cushy job getting paid to write about tiktoks

 

[Makavalli]

Is this more proof that black culture influences the world? Cacs are mad that their usual office work wear is blowing up cause nikkas said so

 

[ROFL_GUY]

When I was 14 I wore zip ups

So 25yrs ago

 

[™BlackPearl The Empress™]

Blk people can't do shyt without these WP all in the business

 

[Hater Eraser]

Is this more proof that black culture influences the world? Cacs are mad that their usual office work wear is blowing up cause nikkas said so

 

[GrindtooFilthy]

Is this more proof that black culture influences the world? Cacs are mad that their usual office work wear is blowing up cause nikkas said so

What are you talking about we was already doing this office wear to club thing back in 2010. This isn’t new it’s recycled

 

[Makavalli]

What are you talking about we was already doing this office wear to club thing back in 2010. This isn’t new it’s recycled

I know its not new. I got quarter zips older than this forum but social media wasnt that influential to spark it. I went into Uniqlo and j crew today and the zips were front and center as soon as u walk in.

 

[Dorian Breh]

Quarter zip

Look like an intern brehs