When you are comparing hoodies online, one number tells you a lot before you ever touch the fabric: GSM.
What does GSM mean in clothing?
GSM stands for grams per square metre. It measures the weight of the fabric, not the total weight of the finished garment. A higher GSM usually means a denser, more substantial fabric, although fibre blend, knit structure and finishing still affect how the hoodie actually feels.
So what GSM counts as heavyweight?
There is no single universal cutoff used by every clothing brand. As a practical guide, lightweight hoodies sit toward the lower end of the scale, midweight fleece sits through the middle, and fabrics around 350 GSM and above generally start to feel properly substantial. Around 400 GSM gives a hoodie the dense, structured feel most people picture when they hear heavyweight streetwear.
Is a higher GSM automatically better?
No. More weight is not automatically more quality. A good heavyweight hoodie also needs the right fibre blend, construction, ribbing, stitching, fit and finishing. GSM tells you how heavy the fabric is, but it does not tell the whole story.
Why does ETN use 400 GSM fleece?
Escape The Noise uses 400 GSM fabric across key heavyweight pieces because it gives the garments structure without turning them into armour. The weight helps an oversized silhouette hold its shape, gives graphics and embroidery a solid base, and creates the premium feel ETN is built around.
The Elevation Hoodie and Sunset Grind Hoodie both use 400 GSM heavyweight fleece with an oversized fit.
What should you look for besides GSM?
- Fabric composition: Cotton-rich fleece generally gives a soft hand feel and solid structure.
- Fit: Heavy fabric behaves differently in a slim fit versus an oversized streetwear cut.
- Construction: Ribbing, hems, seams and preshrinking all matter.
- Details: Embroidery and prints should suit the weight and shape of the garment.
Quick answer
If you want a hoodie that feels noticeably substantial, structured and premium, a fabric in the heavyweight range is a good place to start. ETN's core hoodies sit at 400 GSM because that weight suits the oversized streetwear silhouette and the brand's preference for pieces that feel built rather than flimsy.
See the full Escape The Noise DROP 001 collection.
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