3 Ways Quarter Zip Sweatshirts Prove To Be A Sigma💙

The quarter zip sweater was once the uniform of Canary Wharf bankers and tech bros. But as of late 2025, TikTok crowned it the â€œQuarter Zip Dude” aesthetic. The quarter-zip has exploded into relevance. Once mocked as the uniform of suburban dads or cliche “finance bros,” is now being re-defined by Gen Z, micro-influencers, and minimal-but-intentional fashion founders. The â€œquarter-zip movement” has taken on real momentum. Gen Z men are embracing it as a symbol of sophistication, with their TikToks showing off something more refined than streetwear… a shift toward a mature, polished identity.

Brands like ARKET (known for their Scandinavian minimalism), are front and centre, supplying quarter zips that are functional, gender-neutral, and stylistically flexible. And that’s not by accident, ARKET’s wool-blend quarter zips, such as their grey, beige, dark blue, and petrol versions, are currently among the most talked-about pieces in this trend. This trend isn’t just about clothes, it’s about identity and aspiration. So here, I am, unpacking the core takeaways and hacks for my darlings.

💙 What the quarter zip revival means in 2025
💙 Why ARKET is the secret symbolic heart of the movement
💙 How stylists, founders, and creators can lean into this wave
💙 Real, actionable strategy: memes, UGC, gender-fluid lines, and more

What’s Fueling the Quarter-Zip Movement

In 2025, the Quarter-Zip Movement has become a genuine micro-cultural phenomenon, especially on TikTok and Instagram. The movement was catalysed by influencer Jason Gyamfi, who publicly declared himself a “quarter-zip guy” in a viral video. This reinvention is resonating widely and young men are embracing a “Young Gentleman” persona, one that values self-presentation, calmness, and a more refined everyday style. Okay so why do I call it a movement if you’d ask… according to the Quarter-Zip Movement’s own ethos, many adopters talk about changing habits like replacing fast food with mindful eating, switching from coffee to matcha, and focusing on self-presentation as a form of personal growth.

Fashion’s Identity Crisis (And How the Quarter Zip Solves It)

Fashion in 2025 has been really political (and no, not necessarily in a partisan way, but) in how it defines identity. We’re seeing:

  1. Gender-neutral design pushing hard in mainstream fashion.
    • The gender-neutral clothing market is growing rapidly, with Gen Z demanding pieces that don’t rely on binary gender coding.
    • The quarter zip, especially in ARKET’s slim but relaxed cuts, fits this demand beautifully.
  2. ‘Quiet luxury’ and ‘stealth wealth’ remain influential.
    • The quarter zip lives at the intersection of minimalism and understated elegance, more polished than streetwear, less dressy than tailoring.
    • GQ has noted that the quarter zip offers “the simplicity of a crewneck, the polish of a polo, and the relaxed nature of a cardigan.”
  3. Critique of old finance-bro style.
    • Stylists are calling out the old “fleece vests + bright gym shoes” finance look as tired. Experts suggest swapping synthetic athletic fabrics for elevated materials like merino wool or cashmere. 
    • The quarter zip is an easy pivot: it retains the comfort and sporty potential, but elevates the material and silhouette.

The Clash: Finance Bros v/s Fashionistas (and Everyone In-Between)

Let’s talk about how two very different crowds landed on the same garment and why one is losing ground while the other is winning hearts (and likes!).

Finance Bros: The Original Wearers

  • Their approach is and has always been function-first. Quarter zips were an easy, warm layer between board meetings, spreadsheets, and cold City bars.
  • Their style can sway from grey or navy, slim but practical, often paired with chinos or “downtown casual” trousers.
  • Their fabric is previously often synthetics or athletic blends. But stylist advice (per WSJ) is to opt for merino or wool for a more elevated, less “I just left the gym” feel. 

Fashionistas & Gen Z Reclaimers

  • They saw the quarter zip on finance guys and thought, aw, cute, but maybe I can make this romantic.
  • Their wardrobe math said, quarter zip + mini skirt or tailored wide-leg + oversized coat + dainty but deliberate accessories.
  • The feeling of “I stole his jumper, but I made it couture.”
  • On TikTok and Instagram, creators are styling quarter zips in ways that feel far from corporate and more “art gallery opening” than “9 to 5 in the office.”

The power play is real. And stylists are loving it. The quarter zip has become a gender-fluid layer, not just a men’s wardrobe staple.

Why Quarter Zip Trend Matters

If you’re a founder, creator, or stylist, here are the upside insights behind this “just a sweater” moment.

  1. Trend Depth & Longevity
    • The quarter zip movement is backed by lifestyle shifts, people are rethinking their everyday attire, focusing on comfort, maturity, and versatility.
    • With TikTok amplifying it, the trend is grounded in UGC, not just runway hype.
  2. Massive Gender-Neutral Potential
    • The gender-neutral clothing market is forecasted to continue growing strongly as of 2025-26. 
    • Pieces like quarter zips check all the boxes – minimalistic design, universal appeal, good fit on a variety of body shapes.
  3. Sustainable & High-Quality Materials
    • Wool blends like what ARKET uses are durable, breathable, and more sustainable than fast-fashion synthetics.
    • Investing in quality quarter zips means fewer replacements, a strong value prop for conscious consumers.
  4. Collaborative Potential
    • High-low collabs: Imagine a luxury crossover, like a quarter zip x premium brand.
    • Capsule unisex collections for brand founders who want to launch something low-risk but culturally resonant.

For Stylists, Founders & UGC Creators – This Is Your Strategy

For Stylists

  • Use the quarter zip as a versatile layering piece like under oversized coats, over crisp shirts, or paired with skirts for contrast.
  • Create “office-to-weekend” looks, styled up with tailored trousers + loafers, or demoted to casual with jeans + sneakers.
  • Encourage gender-fluid clients to try textural contrasts: wool quarter zip + silky pants, or knit + leather.

For Founders / Fashion Brands

  • Launch a gender-neutral capsule, quarter zips in several shades, high-quality materials, inclusive sizing.
  • Use meme-driven marketing, lean into the “finance bro chic” origin, but reframe it through modern identity.
  • Partner with creators to do “quarter zip transformations” which is low-key, polished, streetwear, gentle-yet-sophisticated.

For UGC Creators / Influencers

  • Film TikTok or Reels with the “quarter-zip glow-up” to show how to style it 3 ways (work, date, weekend).
  • Build “which quarter zip mood are you?” content like match colours / fits / personalities.
  • Invite conversation by asking your audience, “Do you think the quarter zip is overdone or just getting started?”

Final Thoughts: Why the Quarter Zip Is Actually Important, 2026-Style

It’s easy to laugh at the quarter zip, but here’s the thing, the piece is sure winning because it’s quiet, intentional, and relatable. 2025 Fashion has never been being the flashiest or the loudest. It’s about identity, growth, and values.

As a fashion analyst, the zippy’s metamorphosis feels like a signpost people are choosing less obvious luxury, more meaning, and more subtlety. And, as a stylist, it’s a versatile tool in your kit.
And as a creator or founder, it’s a perfect moment to lean in, build narratives, and connect with your people.

So if you’re thinking, â€œShould I care about the quarter zip?“, the answer is yes. Very much so.

Until next time,

Love, Jasmin