Snowboarding T-Shirts, Hoodies & Sweatshirts: The Cultural Roots
Riding in Style: Snowboarding Apparel that Speaks to the Culture
Snowboarding is more than carving down scenic slopes covered in fresh powder (or corduroy groomed hard pack, if that’s where you live)—it's a culture with its own unique personality, art and lifestyle.
From bold graphic tees and hoodies perfect for layering, to cozy sweatshirts for après-ski hang outs, the right apparel communicates who you are both on and off the mountain. At 1923 Main Street®, we design our snowboard t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts with both performance and style in mind, creating gear with a range of design options that consider both weather and personal expression.
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The Snowboarding Tee: Origins & Cultural Roots
Snowboarding emerged mainly in the 70s as a DIY evolution of surfing and skateboarding culture. (Looking for more on the rise of snowboarding? See our Once an Outlaw post on the history of snowboarding and snowboard style.) Early riders used modified boards and creative wooden planks that carved out something new on the mountain. In the 80s and 90s, snowboarding really came into its own as a mainstream winter sport, and with it came its own apparel identity.
Early snowboard graphics leaned into frost, adrenaline and attitude—with everything from alpine landscapes and urban influences, to F-You bold messaging and typography, and even abstract art inspired by street graffiti.
Today, graphic t-shirts still ground snowboard style, while hoodies and sweatshirts complete the layered approach needed for the mountain environment and cool climates.
What Makes Snowboarding Apparel Stand Out
Compared to skateboard and surfing t-shirt design, how does snowboard style differ?
Graphics That Reflect the Ride
Snowboarding t-shirt graphic style today is really built on themes from the past, but modernized and often with a corporate branding twist (yes commercialization took hold).
Snowboarding designs often feature:
Alpine lines and mountain silhouettes
Distinctive brand icons with attitude
Symmetrical layouts that echo snowboard symmetry
These visuals aren’t just patterns—they’re expressions of terrain, momentum and rider spirit.
Seasonal Color Palettes
When it comes to color, it’s no surprise that much of the snowboard apparel we see lives in winter palettes:
Chalk white and ice blue
Forest green and slate gray
Pops of bright color against dark contrast
The right color mix can make your gear visible on the slopes and stylish at the lodge or after party.
Men’s vs. Women’s Snowboarding Apparel Design
There are some nuances to snowboard t-shirt style for men and women, but there is a lot of unisex style as well.
Men’s Styles
Roomier cuts for layered movement
Graphic focus on alpine energy and adventure (and sometimes a little more bold or brazen)
Hoodies sized for layering over tees and thermal tops
Women’s Styles
Tailored cuts that move with the body
Graphic layouts that balance boldness with style, and often elegance and grace
Sweatshirts and hoodies sized for layering and après-ski comfort
We design women’s snowboard apparel to be both wear-ready and personally expressive—because mountain style should feel good and look great no matter where you go.
Snowboarding Apparel Fun Facts
Did you know…
Snow Meets Street: Snowboard graphics took cues from skate culture, blending street art from skate, with mountain imagery from snowboarding.
Tech Meets Style: Modern snow gear balances warmth and freedom of movement (always welcome), but incorporates classic graphics to keep the soul of snowboarding alive.
Art on the Mountain: T-shirts and hoodies often become collectible pieces—riders keep old favorites as reminders of epic seasons.
Why 1923 Main Street Apparel Is Built for the Mountain
Whether you’re layering a graphic tee under a snow shell, cozying up in a sweatshirt, or rocking a bold hoodie on the lodge deck, 1923 Main Street snowboard apparel delivers quality, comfort and authentic original style. Our snowboarding apparel offers comfort and wearability with unique and expressive visuals that resonate with riders of all kinds.
When it comes to our snowboard apparel design process, we don’t do what everyone else is doing, because that’s how we’ve always approached our days on the slopes.