By Private Label Leather · Published · 7 min read
A varsity jacket is a short, snap-front jacket with a wool body, contrasting sleeves (traditionally leather) and striped rib-knit collar, cuffs and waistband. It is decorated with a large chenille letter for the school or team, and it is also called a letterman jacket, letter jacket or baseball jacket.
Varsity jacket vs letterman jacket: is there a difference?
No. A letterman jacket and a varsity jacket are the same garment. "Varsity" refers to a school's top sports team; "letterman" refers to the athlete who earned the right to wear the team's letter. In the USA, a letterman jacket often means one awarded for earning a varsity letter, while "varsity jacket" is the general name used in fashion.
Is it "letterman" or "leatherman" jacket?
It is a letterman jacket, named after the letter on the chest. "Leatherman" is a common mix-up, probably because many letterman jackets have leather sleeves.
Why is it called a letterman jacket?
Because it carries the varsity letter. Athletes who met a standard of play were awarded their school's letter, and the jacket became the way to display it, hence a jacket for a "letter man".
History of the letterman jacket
- 1865: Harvard's baseball team stitches a block "H" onto its uniforms. The "H" letter jacket tradition starts here, as players who earned the letter kept it on their sweaters.
- Early 1900s: the letter moves to heavy knitted cardigans and pullover "letter sweaters".
- 1930s–1950s: the wool body with leather sleeves and snap front appears and becomes the standard American varsity jacket.
- 1980s onward: hip-hop, film and music culture take the jacket off campus.
- Today: fashion and streetwear labels make varsity jackets in every fit and material, from cropped to oversized and denim.
What do varsity letters mean?
A varsity letter is an award for reaching a level of achievement in a school sport or activity, usually the school's initial in chenille. Additional symbols add detail:
- Sport pins and patches: a football, basketball or other symbol for each sport lettered in
- Bars or stripes on the letter or sleeve: each additional year lettered
- Graduation year: usually on a sleeve
- Stars and special patches: captaincy, championships or honours
Custom letters made for a jacket you design yourself work differently from awarded letters: a school awards the official letter, while a custom letter for a fashion or team jacket can be any initial, font and colour you choose.
What are those football jackets called?
The jackets American football players and fans wear with team letters are varsity or letterman jackets. Some people say "jock jacket" or simply "football jacket". Satin versions are often called team or baseball jackets.
Do colleges have letterman jackets?
Yes. Many US colleges and universities award letters to student athletes, and college letterman jackets are common, though the tradition is strongest in high schools.
Famous varsity jackets
Varsity jackets have been worn by athletes, musicians and film characters for decades. Sports-tribute designs, including jackets that reference Muhammad Ali, are popular, but names, likenesses and slogans of public figures are protected and sold only as licensed merchandise. If you are designing a tribute jacket for your brand, use original artwork or secure the licence first.
Examples of letterman jacket designs
- Classic: navy wool body, white leather sleeves, gold chenille letter
- Collegiate: maroon and gold, or green and white, with sport pins
- Streetwear: all-black with tonal chenille, or oversized with large back lettering
- Denim varsity: a jean body with patches
See all the options in varsity jacket colours.
How varsity jackets are made
A wool-blend body is cut and joined to leather or PU sleeves, rib-knit trims are attached, and the jacket is lined and closed with snaps. Chenille letters are produced separately and stitched on. Read varsity jacket materials and cost for detail, or see how we make custom varsity jackets for brands, schools and teams.