What a letterman (varsity) jacket is, why it is called that, what the letters, pins and stripes mean, and how the tradition started at Harvard in 1865.
A letterman jacket is a snap-front jacket, usually with a wool body, contrasting sleeves and striped knit trims, decorated with the large chenille letter a student earns by playing on a school's top team. The same jacket is called a varsity jacket, a letter jacket or, in some places, a jock jacket.
What's a letterman?
A letterman is a student who has "lettered": met the standard set by the school's athletic program (or band, academics or arts) and been awarded the school letter. The jacket gives that letter somewhere to live, which is why it is called a letterman jacket.
Letterman jacket vs varsity jacket
There is no difference in the garment. "Varsity" names the team level; "letterman" names the athlete who earned a letter on it. Retailers and fashion brands tend to say varsity jacket, while schools and families more often say letterman jacket.
Is it leatherman or letterman?
Letterman. The confusion comes from the leather sleeves many of these jackets have, but the name refers to the letter, not the leather.
Where letterman jackets came from
- 1865: Harvard's baseball players add a block "H" to their uniforms. Players who earned the right to keep it wore it on sweaters, and the "H letter jacket" idea spread to other colleges.
- Early 1900s: letters appear on heavy cardigans known as letter sweaters.
- 1930s to 1950s: the jacket form we know takes over: wool body, leather sleeves, snaps and striped trims.
- From the 1980s: hip-hop, movies and music videos take the jacket into everyday fashion.
- Now: brands make cropped, oversized, denim and hooded versions alongside the classic.
What do varsity letters mean?
The letter itself is the award. Everything else on the jacket adds detail to it:
- Sport pins or icons: one for each sport the student lettered in
- Stripes or bars: each extra year lettered
- Class year: usually on one sleeve
- Stars and special patches: captain, MVP, state titles and other honors
Official letters come from the school. When you order custom letters for a team or fashion jacket, the letter can be any initial, font and color you choose, which is the main difference between custom letters and awarded letters for a letterman jacket.
What are those football jackets called?
The jackets football players and fans wear with big letters are letterman or varsity jackets. "Football jacket" and "jock jacket" are informal names for the same thing.
Do colleges have letterman jackets?
Yes. Many US colleges award letters to varsity athletes, although the jacket tradition is strongest in American high schools.
Famous and tribute jackets
Varsity jackets honoring sports legends, such as jackets inspired by Muhammad Ali, are popular collector pieces. Names, likenesses and slogans of public figures are protected, so those jackets are sold as licensed products. If you are designing a tribute jacket, use original artwork or obtain a license.
Letterman jacket examples
- Navy body, white sleeves, gold chenille letter: the classic
- Maroon and gold or green and white with sport pins: collegiate
- All-black with tonal chenille: streetwear
- Jean body with patches: the denim varsity jacket
Planning jackets for your team or brand? See how USSportWear works as a varsity jacket manufacturer.
