The History Behind the Ugly Christmas Sweater

You’ve seen it many winters: millions of funny Christmas sweaters scavenged from grandpa’s closets and worn shamelessly to one of those tacky Christmas parties thrown through the month of December. But have you ever wondered what started this peculiar trend? Even high-fashion retailers have now included their own version of the ugly Christmas sweater. So where did it begin?

It All Started in the 50's - Ugly Christmas sweaters made their popular appearance in the 50’s with the mass commercialization of Christmas. They were first known as “Jingle Bell Sweaters” and featured discrete Christmas themed decorations. The original ugly Christmas sweaters were never intended to be “ugly” they were actually pretty artistic and joyful. 

The trend had a modest presence in the media until the 80’s, when it became popular on TV. 

80's and 90's: Popularization and Deprecation - The character that popularized weird sweaters with strange patterns was Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show. By the end of the decade, it was common for conductors of Christmas special shows to wear them. 

During the nineties, the style winded down, but never died. The turning point was when the character Mark Darcy got shamed in the 2001 film Bridget Jone’s Diary with one of the most out-of-place designs to be seen on screen. Designers were hand-knitting one-of-a-kind sweaters! 

After that, ugly jerseys stepped into the XXI century with renewed strength. 

2000's: The Party Starts - It was in Vancouver that Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch launched the first Christmas Sweater Party. The idea soon spread all over Canada and the US, and later around the world. The parties turned into massive events, often in support of charity causes. 

By 2007 ugly Christmas sweater searches started to soar in Google and the trend slowly trickled its way back into the media.

Celebrities and Haute Couture Find It in 2010's - Early in the decade, various fashion designers released Christmas sweater collections based on the ugly ones. Soon, retail stores picked up on the trend, and nowadays you can buy them brand new instead of scavenging in thrift stores and inherited wardrobes. Celebrities, TV stars, and even politicians boarded the train and turned it into a common Christmas sight. (Source)

Every third Friday of December (December 17), people all over the nation trade their casual garments for something more festive for National Ugly Sweater Day. Whether you find a hidden gem to wear, or you make your own, one things for sure — this holiday will certainly have you laughing all day long!

National Ugly Sweater Day Statistics

23% of people will buy an ugly sweater - It’s bound to happen! Whether it’s for a house party, an office event, or for family photos, 23% of people don’t doubt that they’ll be joining the ugly sweater brigade some time in the future. The joy that comes with purposefully wearing an ugly sweater (without your fashion senses coming into question) is pure and unbeatable. 

9% of people have celebrated - Haven’t been to an ugly sweater party yet? Don’t worry, you’ll get there eventually. In fact, 9% of people have reported that they will be going to their first ever ugly sweater party this year. Don’t know anyone throwing a party? Why not host your own and invite other friends that haven’t been to one before? Ten ugly sweaters are better than none!

Uglychristmassweaters.com made $5 million - This company knows their ugly sweaters. In only three years, their profit has skyrocketed into being a multimillion dollar company. So you can bet they know their stuff. This company allows you to customize your own ugly sweater, buy one in their stock, and even has sweaters created by popular influencers. Some of their sweaters are so ugly that they’re 3D! Many retailers have seen a good amount of profit coming in during the holiday season specifically from their stock of ugly sweaters, which goes to show just how seriously people take their decorative holiday-wear. 

5 Facts About The Ugly Sweater Industry That Will Blow Your Mind

• It started as a joke - A resale retail store noticed an unruly amount of unfortunate sweaters knitted by relatives or ridiculously decorated with festive accoutrements coming in their doors. So, as a joke, they put them up for sale.

• Hipsters had something to do with it - Many people relate the rise of the “ugly sweater” to the rise of the hipster; people who are notorious for making trends out of things on the fringe of culture.

• Business is booming - From 2012 to 2015, the Ugly Sweater industry grew by 200%.

• Everyone wants a piece of the pie - Since the boom, retailers are making their own version of the ugly sweater and resale stores are cashing in on the trend by promoting their finds throughout the holiday season.

• You can even shop ugly sweaters with celebrity faces - From Beyonce to Bill Murray, even celebrities are hopping in on this billion dollar industry by creating ugly sweaters with their faces on them! (Source)

So what do you think about these ugly sweaters? Do you have any? If you have some free moments, please feel free to share the ugliest sweater pictures that you can find online.