Has Snowboard Fashion Lost its Soul?
Snowboarding used to look like it had somewhere to go. Now a lot of it looks like it came from the same spreadsheet.
Back in the 1990s (and even the early 2000s) snowboard style had a lot of personality.
The colours were bold. The graphics were a little weird. Jackets looked like snowboard jackets. Pants looked like snowboard pants. Brands had identities. Sometimes the designs were terrible, but at least they were trying to say something.
Now? A lot of snowboard gear looks way too sensible and corporate.
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Muted colours. Minimal graphics. Technical fabrics. Clean lines. Plenty of black, grey, beige and earth tones.
The old life has been sucked right out of it. Sure some of it looks nice and clean, but something has definitely been lost along the way.
Retro Snowboarding Style
The Once an Outlaw, That Look sweatshirt is part of the Once an Outlaw series by 1923 Main Street®, with designs that recall the roots of the sport in snowboarding streetwear style. Were we a little rebellious in the 1980s and 1990s? Probably. But it wasn’t without reason. Banned from hills, looked down upon by skiers who didn’t like how we rode, jibbed, bonked and carved. And the style…they just didn’t get it. But despite all the looks and sneers, snowboarding persevered into the sport we know and love today.
Celebrate your roots in comfy warm style with the Once an Outlaw, That Look snowboard sweatshirt.
Also available as t-shirt.
• Base Item: Gildan 18000 • 50% cotton, 50% polyester • Pre-shrunk • Classic fit • 1x1 athletic rib knit collar with spandex • Air-jet spun yarn with a soft feel • Double-needle stitched collar, shoulders, armholes, cuffs, and hem
Disclaimers: • Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white. • Subtle orange hue shifts with lighting in the Orange color variant.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
Snowboarding Style was Never Supposed to Look Sensible
Part of what made snowboarding different was that it didn’t initially seem particularly interested in fitting into the established ski world.
The clothing reflected that attitude.
Snowboarders borrowed from skateboarding, hip-hop, punk, workwear and whatever else looked good or felt right. The result wasn’t always tasteful, but that was part of the point.
Today, snowboarding is obviously much more established. The equipment is better and the technical clothing is better. The industry is just bigger and more mature.
But the sad part about all that is the trade-off: when something gets bigger, it gets safer.
A Reddit discussion about current snowboard gear recently described it as “bland and soulless,” with other riders blaming the need to make products more broadly marketable. Another discussion is specifically looking for brands that still capture the 90s and 00s aesthetic.
That doesn’t mean that everyone wants neon jackets and giant graphics, it just means people miss the old school character.
Born from the Outlaw Mindset
The Once an Outlaw, Mask men’s tee celebrates the era when snowboarders were pushed to the fringes—and chose to push back. Inspired by the rebellious roots of the sport, this shirt from the 1923 Main Street® Snowboarding Once an Outlaw collection honors the pioneers who chased lines where they weren’t wanted and built the foundation of modern riding.
Lightweight, easy to wear, and designed for all-season layering, it’s a nod to the riders who turned defiance into progression. Throw it on and own the legacy that started it all.
Also available as men’s snowboard hoodie.
• Base Item: Gildan 5000 • 100% cotton • Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170-180 g/m²) • Open-end yarn • Tubular fabric • Taped neck and shoulders • Double seam at sleeves and bottom hem • Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Mexico
Disclaimers:
• Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white. • Dark color speckles throughout the fabric are expected for the color Natural.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
Maybe the Problem isn’t Minimalism
I don’t think that snowboard style has to revisit the loudest version of itself.
Some of today's gear looks better because it is restrained. The problem is that the restraint has led to a wave of sameness.
There’s a difference between minimalist and generic. A good design knows what it is. A generic design might be trying not to offend anyone.
Snowboarding has always been about individual style. Not just how you ride, but how you present yourself as a rider.
Born From the Ban List
Before snowboarding was accepted, it was resisted. The Once an Outlaw Cherub Hoodie from 1923 Main Street® Snowboarding is inspired by the era when riders were shut out, ignored, and told no—then rode anyway. This piece pays homage to snowboarding’s rebellious beginnings and the culture that grew outside the lift lines.
Featuring a nostalgic cherub graphic with a distinctly 90s edge, this hoodie delivers everyday warmth with a laid-back, street-ready silhouette. Built for layering, late nights, and early chairlifts, it blends heritage style with modern comfort. This is not just a hoodie—it is a nod to the outsiders who shaped the sport.
Also available as a t-shirt.
• Base Item: Gildan 18500
• 50% pre-shrunk cotton, 50% polyester
• Fabric weight: 8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)
• Air-jet spun yarn with a soft feel and reduced pilling
• Double-lined hood with matching drawcord
• Quarter-turned body to avoid crease down the middle
• 1 × 1 athletic rib-knit cuffs and waistband with spandex
• Front pouch pocket
• Double-needle stitched collar, shoulders, armholes, cuffs, and hem
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Honduras or El Salvador
Disclaimer: Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
The Strange Part: A Lot of Riders Seem to Want the Old Stuff Back
There’s clearly renewed interest in vintage snowboard clothing and the 90s/00s aesthetic. People are looking for the old cuts, colours and attitude.
At the same time, snowboard-inspired clothing is living much closer to everyday fashion. That creates an interesting contradiction.
Snowboard style is fashionable at exact moment some snowboarders think snowboard fashion has become boring.
Maybe that’s the opportunity: the future of snowboard style doesn’t need to be a recreation of 1998, it just needs to remember what made snowboarding visually interesting in the first place:
Take risks,
Have a point of view and
Don’t make everything look like it was designed by a committee.
Snowboard style should make you want to wear it and make you want to ride. That‘s what style is supposed to do.