Like Crocs and Birkenstocks, fleeces are enjoying a golden era. Designers from Off-White to Hermès and Dior have propelled the outdoor-only aesthetic into a more desirable streetwear item. The once fusty dad-core piece has come a long way since the late 70s when Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, explored using the fabric, eventually partnering with Massachusetts-based fabric maker Malden Mills, now Polartec, to create the first fleece.
