Have you ever scrolled through TikTok or Instagram and found men dressed in quarter-zips holding matcha? Maybe you’ve seen the trend at school or even participated yourself. But do you know the significance behind this trend? Many think it’s a part of the performative culture, some have no idea at all, and others may know the significance but don’t understand it. That is exactly why I’m writing this now: to provide the historical context you need to understand a popular trend.
Originally, the trend was started by Jason Gyamfi, an influencer on TikTok. Jason claimed that he was distancing himself from Nike Tech and adopting a more “elegant” style. However, this trend became more than just about being “elegant,” but soon symbolized breaking a stereotype that had been forced on Black communities.
To understand why a sweater and a drink carry such weight, we must look at the history of dehumanization in America. During and after slavery, many white Americans justified cruelty by stripping African Americans of their dignity. A process seen in everything from derogatory slurs to the enforcement of clothing that looked more like rags than decent attire. Through Jim Crow laws and Black Codes that were used to exclude Black individuals from legal and political rights, and through things like lynchings and other public executions, the oppression was systemic. However, as Black communities thrived and built a lasting culture, that progress was met with fear and the birth of the “ghetto” label. Suddenly, clothing favored by Black communities, like Nike Techs, was used to reinforce the idea that Black people couldn’t be anything else.
Within the halls of Lakeside, students are divided on whether this new “elegant” look is a step forward. For students like Samira and Pablo, the trend is a welcome change because it brings back “classy” looks. This sentiment is shared by Jarron, who believes the aesthetic simply makes people look “proper.” Even Max, a supporter of the movement, argues that he loves the trend because, in his view, “people aren’t ghetto anymore.”
However, this shift doesn’t sit right with everyone. Aubrey McLaughlin points out a significant flaw in the trend’s logic, stating that it carries “racist undertones” and arguing that “dressing a certain way doesn’t make you proper.” While Jason Gyamfi implied an “elegant” aesthetic to empower and reclaim a style that was historically denied to black individuals, it also risks reinforcing “respectability politics.” This is the idea that marginalized groups must adopt mainstream, Eurocentric beauty standards to be accepted. The danger, as Aubrey suggests, is that by labeling specific clothing like Nike Techs as “ghetto,” the trend might also validate the very stereotypes it seeks to disprove. If the “Quarter-Zip and Matcha” aesthetic becomes the only way for Black men to be viewed as “proper,” it demonizes a predominantly Black style.
Ultimately, the significance of the quarter-zip isn’t about deciding which style is “ghetto” and which is “proper.” It is about confronting a stereotype and redefining it. The true trend should be a world where Black men and women can wear whatever they choose, be it a Nike Tech or a quarter-zip, and still fully embrace themselves without apology.
