Why This Apparel Wholesaler’s Hoodies Have Reached Global Cult Status

The Wall Street Journal just called a sweatshirt from Camber USA, a small, Morristown, Pennsylvania-based apparel wholesaler, the “world’s best hoodie.”

Obviously, that title is wholly subjective and there will certainly be some disagreements to that claim. But, the demand for the sweatshirt speaks for itself and has to mean something, right?

WSJ reporter Jacob Gallagher said that finding a Camber USA hoodie abroad, such as in England, is “devilishly hard,” with one social media influencer saying that they sell out “faster than a hiccup” whenever they are available in a store. In Japan, the hoodies are so popular that there's a hashtag wearers use to show them off on social media.

So, just what makes Camber’s hoodie so special?

Gallagher said that the hoodie is “as thick as a bath mat and tender on the inside, like an old blanket that has been through the spin cycle a few times.”

Arctic Thermal sweatshirts from Camber USA | Credit: Camber USA

That does sound nice.

Right now, thicker materials and boxier silhouettes are all the rage, so people want a hoodie that has that retro Champion style with a comfortable touch and durable construction.

It’s sort of like Supreme, too, where once the culture decides something is good, that’s it. It’s good. It’s the best. It’s valuable. And, like Supreme, Camber USA hoodies sell for as high as $150 in international boutique stores. Comparatively, they sell for about $60 to $125 in the U.S.

Other companies have broken through from function to fashion, like Carhartt. Think about how Carhartt beanies and T-shirts, once staples for jobs that required being outside in harsh elements, are now being sold in stores like Urban Outfitters to appeal to younger customers with less physically demanding jobs.

More than anything, this speaks to the power of a well-made product. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. It doesn’t necessarily need to have the most cutting-edge technology. It just needs to look good, feel good and hold up. That’s the bottom line.