The History of the Football Jacket

A football jacket is a garment worn by high school and college students in the United States. It can be a display of school and team pride as well as a way to showcase accomplishments in athletics, academics or extracurricular activities. It is often referred to as a letterman jacket, although that term is also used for other types of awards. The jackets have a history that stretches back nearly two centuries.

The first varsity jackets were introduced by Harvard University’s sports teams in 1865. The athletes sewed large old English “H” patches on their uniform sweaters, which led to them being called letterman jackets. These were not the classic, fitted style we know today. They were more like thick-knitted gray flannel pullovers. The best athletes were allowed to keep their sweaters at the end of the season, while others had to return them. Over time, other schools adopted the practice of awarding letters to top-performing students.

In addition to the chenille letter, most jackets have an emblem for the student’s sport or activity. The student’s name and graduation year are usually sewn in matching chenille. The year is usually placed just above the left pocket. A championship patch may be sewn on the back of the jacket, as is a badge that represents the student’s participation in extracurricular activities and the number of medals won.

While many schools provide jackets to their letter winners, there are some that have special fundraising programs to allow all students to have the opportunity to purchase a jacket. The jackets are typically produced in the school colors, with the body of the torso being made of boiled wool and the sleeves being leather. They have a banded collar for men and a top-buttoned hood (that unbuttons into an expanded collar) for women.

Almost never purchased before a student earns a letter, the varsity jacket is most commonly awarded in the sophomore or junior year. However, in some schools where only varsity letters are awarded, the jacket is worn much earlier, as early as the freshman year.

The varsity letter has evolved from being a mere sign of the highest achievement in athletics to becoming an icon of school pride and a symbol of commitment and dedication to a goal. Students who are awarded a varsity letter in any academic or extracurricular activity can be honored with a jacket to show their pride and recognition of their accomplishments. At United Sport Apparel, we have a wide variety of different emblems to choose from to customize your jacket. Each one is manufactured from high-quality fabrics that are designed for durability. Our production process includes careful inspection of the final product by an experienced quality control team. As a result, each jacket is free from defects that would affect the overall appearance and function of the garment. Our products are backed by our 1 Year Product Warranty. This warranty covers manufacturing defects, but does not cover wear and tear or damages caused by accident or abuse.