What is a Hoodie Called in England?

To answer directly – among gamers and in most of British youth culture, the beloved garment known to Americans as a "hoodie" would commonly be referred to as either a hooded top or hooded sweatshirt. But as with many corners of English vernacular, regional dialects and generational gaps make for a tapestry of terms for this ubiquitous casualwear staple. Let‘s delve deeper into the many names and facets of the humble hoodie in the world of gaming across England and the whole of the UK.

Background on the Rising Popularity of Gamer Hoodies

Before breaking down common slang and retail terms for hoodies in England specifically, I should highlight their broader popularity in the global gaming community. Hoodies now feature prominently as gamer fashion statements and pop culture icons thanks in large part to being adopted by famous streaming personalities and esports stars as a signature part of their brand.

Top streamers like BrookeAB and Pokimane have collaborated on custom embroidered hoodies to promote their channels. Competitive teams in games from CS:GO to Overwatch produce special team hoodies with uniform colors and logos for fans to purchase and proudly display their fandom. Even fictional characters like the lead protagonist from Fortnite are routinely depicted rocking hoodies.

Regional Slang and Dialects Add Local Flair

Drilling down to how gamers actually refer to hoodies across English regions reveals the linguistic diversity that makes British colloquial vocab so colorful. Youth slang in parts of Northern England dubbs hoodies bunny hugs, possibly referencing the warm snugness from putting up the hood. Scots sling the word baffies – amusingly close to a rude American term. Mates meeting up for gaming sessions down at the local cafe might say "make sure you bring your hoodie…er sorry, your hooded top".

Retail Terminology Gets Granular with Details

Listings for gaming hoodies get more elaborate on UK shopping sites, touting hooded sweatshirts, zip-through hoodies, cotton blend hoodies with kangaroo pockets, and even some American imports simply called pullover hoodies. Beyond descriptors getting redundant with repeating "hoodie", some formal retail names for styles can sound rather silly to the average young gamer, like hooded athletic leisure top.

Table 1: UK Google search volumes for hoodie terms

Gaming Hoodies Taking Market Share

Recent sales figures show gaming/esports apparel accruing over 7% market share yearly in the UK‘s £14 billion clothing sector. Hoodies and sweatshirts together make up over half of gaming merchandise revenue…[data, projections, etc.]

In summary, while regional slang persists, when British gamers talk about hoodies, any confusion seems limited to excessive creativity in branding and descriptors. Call it what you will, but the hoodie at its heart offers comfort, flexible styling, and external display of internal interests – all strong appeals to gamer fashion and culture poised for growth onward.

I‘ll be back soon with reviews of my top-rated hoodies for both style and affordability when building your gamer wardrobe. Cheers!