House rangeS to XXXLHalf zipZipped pockets8 colours
The essentials: four pockets that close, two of them on the sleeves: enough to head out for a run with keys and phone and carry nothing in your hands. Half zip with contrast pulls, small official Esprit Boxe logo on the chest. 8 colours at one price. 6 sizes from S to XXXL, European cut — take your usual size. €49, free standard shipping.
The hoodie was invented as warm-up kit
The Knickerbocker Knitting Company, founded in Rochester in 1919 and later renamed Champion, produced the first hooded sweatshirt in the 1930s: a sideline garment meant to be kept on between sessions, sold alongside the same piece supplied to cold-storage warehouse workers in upstate New York.
The University of Michigan ordered the first run for its sports teams in 1934. The job has not changed since: hold the heat your body has already made while it comes back down.
This model keeps that job and adds what the original never had: four pockets that close, two of them on the sleeves.
The artwork
The official Esprit Boxe logo runs large across the back, shoulder to shoulder, and is repeated small on the left chest. It inverts with the body colour: light on the dark shades, dark on the light ones.
From three metres / 10 ft the name reads across the back. Head on, all you see is a small block above the zip.
The garment
Half zip: the closure stops mid-chest, so it goes on over your head and the collar opens to dump heat. Contrast zip pulls and tape. Two zipped slash pockets at the waist, one zipped pocket and one flap pocket on the sleeves. Drawcord hood, ribbed cuffs and hem.
Technical specification
Technical specifications
Our advice: the sleeve pockets hold keys, a gym pass and earphones through rope work and roadwork, where a front pouch empties itself the moment you start skipping. This is the one in the range to keep on during the warm-up, and the one with the widest choice of shades.
Your size
European cut — take your usual size. No Asian sizing conversion to apply. Six sizes, S to XXXL (XXXL is the same as 3XL), same price across all eight colourways.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a half zip hoodie?
A hoodie whose zip runs down only the top half of the body: you pull it on over your head like a standard hoodie, then open the collar to let heat out without stripping off. It is the usual format for warming up.
What size hoodie should I order?
European cut — take your usual size, with no conversion to apply. Six sizes, S to XXXL, at the same price on all eight colourways. Over training kit, go one size up.
Is the logo on the front or the back?
Both: a small block on the left chest, and the same logo printed large across the back, shoulder to shoulder. The back print reads from three metres / 10 ft away, the chest mark only close up.
How many pockets does it have?
Four: two zipped slash pockets at the waist, one zipped pocket and one flap pocket on the sleeves. The sleeve pockets are the ones that hold keys and earphones while you skip or run.
Who invented the hoodie?
The Knickerbocker Knitting Company, founded in Rochester in 1919 and later renamed Champion, in the 1930s. It was designed as a sideline garment to keep on between sessions, and the University of Michigan ordered the first run for its teams in 1934.
What colours does it come in?
Eight: white, black, light grey, dark grey, beige, blue, navy and red. That is the widest choice in the house range, at one price across every shade.
