Madison Cabagbag | Social Media Editor
November 23, 2025
On November 3rd, TikTok content creator Jason Gyamfi posted a video describing his shift in fashion choice from Nike Techs to quarter zips. He implies that grown, put together men wear this classier choice of clothing, and that Nike Techs are for little boys. It blew up.
This attention propelled a movement among young black men, and eventually men in general, to wear this article of clothing. Its widespread impact also rode on currents from this year’s “performative male” trends, emphasizing traits aligning with the female gaze– like listening to certain music, reading, or drinking matcha.
Although it’s currently at an influx of attention, the phenomenon can also be accredited to the steady rise of quarter zip popularity in general. This year, the San Clemente High School JV girls tennis team and all of the girls volleyball players opted for quarter zips over their previous hoodies for team spirit wear. Maddox Gutierrez, a sophomore at San Clemente High School, commented that “Quarter zips are overrated, but I’ve been wearing them since day one.”
Additionally, Miles Johnston, a freshman at SCHS regarded that “It was always a nice style, but I liked it more before it became ‘performative’ or more for the idea of aura.”
Although it trickled down to high school culture, the trend itself is also an opportunity for Gen Z. As an internet generation that centers its identity on youthfulness– whether that be in ideas, culture, or appearance– this movement functions as an outlet for Gen Z to allow themselves to explore growing up and maturing. It pushes values of career focus, intellectual enrichment, classically clean styles, and spins what could be perceived as sterile adult culture into an appealing, sophisticated lifestyle.
Overall, the longevity of this movement might become short lived. Trends come and go, and because of how fleeting internet culture has become, long term impact is often not as cemented. But in the end, the craze for quarter zips marks a modern shift towards celebrating grown aspects of life while maintaining the fun guise of a young trend.
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