Installment #3 breaks down how the quarter-zip became a cultural symbol—bridging Gen Z TikTok trends, “stealth wealth” elites, and evolving ideas of maturity and success. What starts as a fashion trend opens a deeper conversation about identity, respectability, and how style shapes perception, especially for young Black men. The piece asks a bigger question: is the quarter-zip just a moment, or a lasting statement about where culture is headed?
On one side of the digital world, a young TikTok creator confidently declares the dawn of a new era: “It’s straight quarter zips and matcha’s around here.” On the other, established figures like UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the fictional patriarch Logan Roy of HBO’s Succession quietly reinforce their power in the same garment, albeit in plush, unbranded cashmere. The quarter-zip sweater has become a cultural crossroads, a single piece of clothing that unites the viral vanguard of youth culture with the established “stealth wealth” elite. How did this humble pullover become the de facto uniform for such disparate tribes, formally known as YN’s, and what does its unprecedented rise tell us about the state of fashion, status, and culture in 2025?
The Viral Spark: “We Don’t do Nike Tech”
To truly grasp a trend’s cultural power, we must trace it back to its origin. While the quarter-zip has been a wardrobe background player for decades, its current omnipresence was ignited by a specific, explosive social media moment. On November 5th, 2025 (Yes, I’m being federal), a TikTok video by a 21-year-old from the Bronx named Jason Gyamfi went viral, single-handedly launching the “Quarter Zip Winter” movement.
In the video, Gyamfi draws a line in the sand, rejecting the infamous Nike Tech’s in favor of something more refined. His declaration became a mantra for a generation: “We don’t do Nike tech. We don’t do coffee. It’s straight quarter zips and matcha’s around here.” Now, I don’t know how I feel about us not drinking coffee anymore, but I think we get what he’s saying. He framed this choice as a conscious elevation, a move away from what he called “little boys” fashion toward an aesthetic he described as “elegant” and “classy.” This sartorial shift signifies a deliberate adoption of a more “presentable” and “grown man” identity.
I like this! It was about time for someone to call out the Nike Tech community. Some may say “It’s just clothes, what’s the big deal?” But there’s a deeper meaning behind the elevation in style. Clothes, like anything, hold power in one’s mindset, behavior, and presence. The Nike Tech was cool for a while, but it’s time that we promote something that’s worth attention: in this case the sophisticated quarter-zip. And while a viral video lit the fuse, the quarter-zip already possessed a long-established identity built on function and versatility—a history that made this sudden cultural re-interpretation so potent.
From Sportswear Staple to Office Workhorse
Long before it was a meme or a status symbol, the quarter-zip was a masterpiece of functional design. Its current popularity is built on a solid foundation of practicality that has allowed it to adapt to changing dress codes for over half a century.
The garment’s story begins in mid-20th-century sportswear, where, as noted by Wikipedia and performance gear reviews, its primary purpose was elegant thermoregulation. Its technical DNA is the key to its enduring appeal. This evolution from technical gear, Nike Tech’s, to office staple, Quarter-Zips, is logical. The same attributes that serve an athlete—comfort, breathability, and adaptability—are highly valued in the modern workplace. In an era of relaxed dress codes and remote work, the quarter-zip successfully bridged the gap between a casual sweater and professional wear, often replacing the traditional business suit.
Now, the topic of jobs is for another episode, but as we can see the quarter-zip—in a way—manifests success through its long-lasting lineage.
The “Old Guard”: A Status Symbol of Stealth Wealth
Parallel to its life as a dependable wardrobe staple, the quarter-zip cultivated another, more rarified identity: a uniform for the powerful. As The Guardian notes, it has become “the new status symbol for men of a certain position,” a key piece in the wardrobe of a global elite who prefer to whisper their wealth rather than shout it.
This archetype is visible across the highest echelons of society, where the simple act of zipping up a knit pullover is a subtle broadcast of influence. For example: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak regularly wears quarter-zips from Ralph Lauren; The Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry) has favored styles from the British cashmere brand N.Peal, with prices starting from £345, roughly $452; and celebrities like David Beckham was spotted on Instagram in a $1,800 Loro Piana baby cashmere version, a pinnacle of quiet luxury.
These figures champion “stealth wealth dressing,” an aesthetic defined by unbranded, exquisitely made garments that signal status only to those in the know. The high-quality quarter-zip is a perfect vehicle for this, whether it’s the cashmere knit of a media mogul or the uniform of a “finance bro” on Wall Street. As one Reddit commenter caustically described the look, a quarter-zip paired with “lulu ABCs and some ON running shoes” creates the ultimate aesthetic of someone who is “as safe and uninteresting as biz casual can get.” This established, elite image provides a stark contrast to the new, viral interpretation, creating a fascinating cultural dialogue.
The Big Question: Are Quarter-Zips the best thing for Gen-Z?
The “Quarter Zip Winter” trend, particularly its enthusiastic adoption by young Black men, has sparked a nuanced and vital conversation that extends far beyond aesthetics. The movement is being interpreted in two very different ways, highlighting a complex cultural intersection.
On one hand, many see it as a simple, natural evolution of style—a sign of maturation. As one Reddit commenter framed it, this is “Gen Z discovering that a quarter zip and chinos look a lot better than a hoodie and sweatpants.” In this view, it’s a straightforward rite of passage, swapping youthful casualwear for a more polished, adult look.
However, a second, more complex perspective argues that the trend is deeply intertwined with respectability politics. This viewpoint, articulated in articles from Distractify and Complex, questions the cultural implications of trading a stereotypically Black-coded fashion staple (the Nike Tech) for traditionally white-coded, preppy, or corporate attire (the quarter-zip). The central conflict is whether this is a form of empowerment—pushing back against racist stereotypes—or a form of assimilation. One Reddit user astutely described it as a “modern-day resurgence of Black dandyism,” a historical practice where Black men used sharp, formal dress as a form of social and political resistance to subvert societal expectations.
Others see a more problematic subtext. As TikTok user AntonioSpeaks argued, the trend can be interpreted as a way “to shame black culture and put white culture on a pedestal.” This analysis suggests that the implicit message—that one look is “classy” while the other is for “little boys”—reinforces harmful societal biases.
Now, in my opinion, I don’t believe that this is harmful whatsoever. Why would an elevation in style be a way of shunning black culture and praising white culture? We normalized the Nike Tech and the immaturity that came with it (aka trapping and scamming), and so much more. Now, one may argue that Nike Techs did not promote such behavior, and I agree they didn’t. However, the negative association of the Nike Tech has followed this generation for far too long. Why is an elevation of style a bad thing for a community that is constantly ridiculed for being immature?
The Verdict: Is the Quarter-Zip Here to Stay?
With the cultural battle lines drawn, the final question is whether the quarter-zip’s moment in the spotlight is a fleeting meme or a lasting sartorial shift. All signs point to the latter. The quarter-zip takeover is more than a momentary fad, and its staying power is grounded in two fundamental realities.
1. Inherent Versatility and Timelessness: The quarter-zip is not a niche item. Its origins are in functional sportswear, and it has proven its ability to adapt to nearly any social or professional context for decades. It is a practical, proven garment whose core value doesn’t depend on viral hype.
2. The Social Eye: Starting as a TikTok trend subjects the quarter-zip to opinions and criticism, not to say that’s bad, but to say that it can influence the longevity of the garment. We must wait and see whether the mass appeals or objects the new style and what that means for the next generation.
The viral trend has successfully re-contextualized the quarter-zip, transforming it from a “safe, somewhat bland” office staple into a piece loaded with new cultural meaning. The quarter-zip’s story is a perfect loop of modern culture: a functional item was co-opted by the elite as a class signifier, which has now been ironically re-appropriated by a younger, diverse generation to redefine maturity and success on their own terms.
The quarter-zip has proven it can do it all. But what do you think? Is it a permanent fixture in your wardrobe, or just a temporary trend? Let us know in the comments.
TheAlonzoJones 