ESSENTIALS vs G-Star RAW: which zip-up wins?
Both land in the mid tier — the ESSENTIALS ESSENTIALS Full-Zip Hoodie at $110, the G-Star RAW G-Star RAW Zip Hoodie at $110. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| ESSENTIALS | G-Star RAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 | $110 |
| Material | Heavyweight cotton-blend fleece with a soft brushed interior and a substantial, structured hand. | Cotton fleece with a soft brushed interior and a clean, structured surface. |
| Fit | Relaxed, slightly oversized cut with a dropped shoulder; size down for a closer line. | Clean modern cut, often slightly slim with utility detailing; generally true to size. |
| Quality | Sturdy zipper, thick ribbing and rubberized logo detailing; finishing is consistent for the diffusion line. | Quality zipper, ribbed trims and considered seam detailing; finishing reflects the brand's utility focus. |
| Best for | Buyers wanting the recognizable ESSENTIALS aesthetic in a heavyweight, relaxed zip hoodie at the diffusion-line price. | Buyers wanting a utility-styled cotton zip hoodie with industrial detailing and a modern cut. |
| Care | Machine wash cold inside out and tumble dry low to protect the rubberized logo. | Machine wash cold and tumble dry low; wash inside out to protect any logo or detailing. |
At $110 each, ESSENTIALS and G-Star RAW are both cotton zip hoodies sold on styling, but the cut and fabric weight differ. ESSENTIALS runs heavyweight and relaxed with a dropped shoulder and rubberized logo; G-Star is a cleaner cotton fleece in a slimmer modern cut with industrial utility detailing. Same money, so it's relaxed-and-thick versus trim-and-utilitarian.
heavyweight cotton-blend fleece, recognizable ESSENTIALS look, structured substantial hand, relaxed oversized cut, rubberized logo detailing
clean modern slim cut, utility seam detailing, structured surface, generally true to size, distinctive industrial aesthetic
Which should you buy?
Buy the ESSENTIALS if you want the heavier fabric and the oversized, dropped-shoulder streetwear silhouette. Buy the G-Star RAW, same $110, if you prefer a slimmer, cleaner cut with utility detailing and you don't want to size down to get a fitted line. Price doesn't break the tie, so go by silhouette: thick and relaxed, or trim and structured.
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