VOL 5. THE WINDBREAKER

The Windbreaker.

THE WINDBREAKER. IN HISTORY.

Lighter outerwear built to cut wind chill and light moisture. Technology shifts rather quickly in this category. After WWII, nylon and polyester hit mass production, turning jackets into thinner, packable, performance shells. They moved from the military (ie bomber jackets) to the sports field to the sidelines. Uniforms meant for coaches, athletes spread.

By the 1980s, spectator sports and bright color-blocked trends pushed them into youth culture. Crinkle nylon, elastic hems, oversized cuts. Street picked it up, bent it out of shape, and never let go. What began as sport utility became a cultural uniform.

My take? Love the brazen color, the low armholes that create so much of the iconic shape and ease of wear. And then there’s the collar. The neckline of a windbreaker is a crucial place to pay attention. The popovers, the stand collars, even the hood with the drawcord details, all meant to ornament the face.

THE WINDBREAKER. IN CULTURE.

Rare archival pulls land on the street before they ever hit the runway. Brands are busy selling you replicas, but we’re pulling you the real deal. Nothing beats the crinkle sheen of nylon, the jersey linings worn soft from fields and sidelines.

Street does it better than runway. It’s the American effortlessness and the wild proportion play, the bending of tailored looks until they’re something new.

And it tracks: in its 2025 Youth Report, Pacsun found that music is the central marker of youth identity. Clothes move with soundtracks. What shows up in mosh pits and stairwells filters out faster than any trend deck. Culture isn’t curated. It’s lived, layered, and loud. Now? You're seeing this influence globally - maybe a tad louder in Europe where tailoring and sports somehow fit perfectly together. Get inspired!