You have probably seen these colorful Mexican textiles around college campuses, at music festivals, yoga shalas, and drum circles all over the country. From the summer of love to surf and skateboard culture, these patterns have become synonymous with counterculture movements as a free-flying flag of hippie style. Whether you had one in high school, or you still have one in the back of your car to keep you cozy around a campfire, iconic Baja hoodies and falsa blankets are nostalgic symbols of simpler times.
Mexican Blankets: The Evolution of Campesino Style
Baja hoodies and traditional falsa blankets are cut from the same cloth. Born in Mexico, these textiles originated as the ubiquitous Mexican Blanket (or falsa blanket), and are traditionally woven of a thick woolen cloth called “jerga” and decorated with horizontal stripe patterns. Falsa blankets typically have a loosely woven tasseled end and were, and still are, used as blankets all over Mexico, from Oaxaca to Tijuana and everywhere in between.
Both falsa blankets and bajas were then woven from a variety of textiles from wool, to hemp, to cotton, but retained the classic Mexican patterns and thick weave of the traditional blankets. In true fashion evolution this classic falsa blanket grew arms, a hood, a single large “joey” pocket, and thus the “Sudadera de Jerga” was born.
This new style of Mexican hoodie was adopted by many “jovenes” (young people) and “campesinos” (farmers) in mountainous and seaside communities across the country.
"Baja Hoodies:" Counterculture from Mexico to California
Surfers traveling down to Baja, Mexico in search of tasty waves and a cool buzz fell in love with these colorful absorbent sweatshirts, and thus the “Baja Hoodie” was born and brought back to California. The Baja Joe hoodie rode into popularity on the waves of surf and skateboard culture and was adopted as an unofficial anti-establishment uniform by the hippie movement of the 1960s and 70s.
What is a "drug rug"?
Whereas the Baja jacket is now notoriously referred to as a “drug rug,” it is up for debate as to whether that name came from the use of hemp in the woven jerga material, or its association with marijuana through the free-loving counterculture hippie movement. However, don’t let that stony name fool you, the slimming horizontal stripes, colorful designs, and cozy fit of our Baja Joe hoodies can complement any style, from surfer to fashion blogger.
Where to buy Mexican Blankets and the best Baja Hoodies?
Did we mention that our Mexicalu Bues Baja Joe Hoodies and Mexican Falsa Blankets are made from 100% recycled materials? You can look good and feel good too with this classic sustainable fashion. Each recycled sweatshirt or recycled blanket helps give textiles a new life and keeps them out of a landfill. From Mexico to California, surfers to fashionistas, drum circles to yoga shalas, and hippie communes to environmentally-minded consumers, the Baja hoodie is a timeless fashion icon that continues to bring color, culture, and comfort to the world.
When did you get your first Baja? How do you use your falsa blanket? It might be time for some new colors... ✌️
