“I’m a quarter zip dude now”, is a statement that has taken over the men’s fashion industry in the last few weeks. The quote, originating in a post by TikToker Jason Gyamfi, has made it rounds since being posted on the third of November. Nearing 10 million views, the video has inspired men to start wearing these “elegant” articles of clothing instead of their previous styles, which for Gyamfi and many others was their Nike tech that was for “lil boys”. 

The quarter zip, which Gyamfi affiliated with the drink matcha, is a part of a wider movement of male fashion focused on aesthetics and emotions, often referred to as “performative males”. However, “performative males” have been around a lot longer than Gyamfi’s quarter zip movement and have their own signature styles. Wired earbuds, matcha and Labubus have all had their own trending times within the performative movement as accessories that are aesthetic to an already dressed up man.

Additionally, the movement consists of men wearing vintage, baggy or very formal clothes to enhance their “aura” during any occasion. For Gyamfi and many of his followers, the quarter zip allows them to be performative at a more formal setting, such as work, in comparison to the clothes they were wearing beforehand. The article allows men to feel classy and sophisticated while doing everyday tasks, which can allow people to feel better about themselves and more confident.

Specifically, Gyamfi’s quarter zip movement is becoming insanely popular as fans across social media are creating specific quarter zip days, labeled as “quarter zip Fridays” or something similar, and uploading a group of people at a school or workplace all dressed in a quarter zip to any platform. While the quarter zip was already a staple of men’s fashion, Gyamfi’s movement has propelled it into the spotlight and denotes how influential social media can be in fashion.