Gen Z Turned the Quarter Zip into a Vibe
Gen Z has spoken, and their new style hero is the quarter zip. Yes, the same quietly dependable pullover that used to live in golf bags and office drawers is now a full cultural moment. TikTok is obsessed, and outlets like the Daily Dot have already broken down why the platform cannot get enough of the trend.
It is funny, but also real. The appeal is simple. The quarter zip gives off intention without trying too hard. It is the visual version of saying I have my life together for the next hour.
How it Went Viral
The spark came from a viral TikTok by Jason Gyamfi and Richard Minor from the Bronx, covered widely by ABC7 after the video crossed twenty million views and turned the quarter zip into a symbol of leveling up. Gyamfi said it best. “When you look good, you do good.” That message hit a nerve and young people ran with it. Newsweek captured how this simple idea transformed into a broader lifestyle movement embraced across Gen Z.
“When you look good, you do good.”
— Jason Gyamfi
What happened next was bigger than style. Teens, college students, and young professionals started swapping hoodies for quarter zips and posting about elevating their lives. The founders of the quarter zip movement make it clear that it’s not really about the clothes, but rather about showing up as the best version of yourself.
Why The Trend Works
The New York Times framed the quarter zip as a new form of cool maturity for Gen Z men, a sign of how style and self presentation are evolving.
“It is almost not even necessarily telling our young generation to put down the Nike Techs and to pick up a quarter zip, but to just hold yourself to a higher standard.”
— Josh Akinwunmi, University of Texas at San Antonio
(Interview originally reported by The New York Times .)
In the past year alone, searches for “quarter zip pullover men’s business casual” have spiked more than 2,200 percent, according to Fast Company, and quarter-zip sales among 18 to 24 year olds have climbed roughly 25 percent since mid 2024, as reported by Complex.
The look is clean and comfortable and still feels slightly elevated. It hits that sweet spot between casual and polished, a balance Gen Z leans toward again and again. Quiet confidence without being bland, wearable without trying too hard. That is how a simple sweater turns into a full movement, something Complex chronicled as memes and commentary pushed the trend into true cultural status.
What This Means For Branded Apparel
The quarter zip trend is a reminder that people want clothing that feels wearable, subtle, and personal. The movement proves that the simplest pieces can have the biggest impact when they look good and feel good. That is exactly why elevated basics matter so much in branded apparel.
When a piece fits naturally into someone’s daily routine, it becomes something they reach for again and again. A clean logo hit. Good fabric. Thoughtful colors. Those small details turn a basic item into a favorite. Quiet confidence works in personal style and it works in what brands choose to put their name on.
The Moment We Are In
If your audience is leaning into this idea of laid back polish, your brand can lean into it too. The quarter zip trend proves people gravitate toward pieces that feel wearable, subtle, and personal, and that is exactly where branded apparel shines.
Quiet confidence is in. Elevated basics are in. The humble quarter zip is having a moment and it earned it.
If your brand wants apparel people actually reach for, we can help.