Break Out Your Bajas

Break out Your Bajas or Dawn Your Drug Rugs!

- How did the Ultimate Hippie Hoodie get its Name(s)? -

Fall is approaching and you know what that means, (besides people talking way too much about pumpkin spice) it's time to break your Baja out!

Baja? Jerga? Drug Rug? Whatever you call it, we all know what these cozy patterned woven pullover hoodies are, but where did they manage to get these monikers?

How they got their Name(s)

If you call yourself a hippie, there’s a pretty good chance you (or one of your cannabis-loving companions) have a Drug Rug hanging somewhere in your closet. (Or, more likely, crumpled up in your laundry so you can wash out the stench from your stash.) Maybe you picked it up at your local head shop, bought it at your last festival, or even got it on your vacation to Mexico. You might call it a Baja or even a Jerga, but either way, this cozy hoodie is an ageless item- emblematic of the free-loving hippie counterculture which grew in the ‘60s and lives on in the hearts of free spirits today!

Jerga? Baja?? Drug Rug!?

While many associate the colorful patterned pullover we all know and love with free-loving hippies, it actually has a much older history. It was based on the patterning of the traditional Mexican Striped Falsa blankets which were fashioned into a pullover with one big pocket. The Sudadera de Jerga, or Jerga for short, has been worn by people in Central and South America for over seven hundred years. And because of this history, some who got theirs south of the border still call the garment a Jerga.

Reborn by the beaches of Baja, Mexico, (hence the name ‘Baja’) these comfy and durable hoodies were brought to the hippie scene of California in the ‘70s by surfers after their quests down the coast for the gnarliest waves. Once they made their way to Cali, this simple hoodie took the hippie scene by storm!

Whether it was because they were embraced by the psychedelic drug-loving hippie counterculture, or maybe because they were thought to be made of hemp, people also started calling them Drug Rugs.


Sustainable Style

Though people often think they’re made of hemp, Baja hoodies are usually made from a blend of cotton or acrylic. And, in case you didn’t have enough reasons to wear them, many of our styles are sustainably made from 100% recycled materials! No matter what they’re made of, these super comfy and durable hoodies are perfect for throwing on during chilly days, before late night beach walks, hikes, or keeping you warm while smoking a little something. This might be why stoners, surfers, and hippies through history have blazoned a Baja!


The Legend Lives On

Whether you grew up during the rise of this legendary item or you came of age a bit later, some storied stoner character comes to mind when you think of the Drug Rug. Maybe you conjure thoughts of Sean Penn as Spicoli, the hero of his history class, ordering pizza while dawning his Drug Rug. Or your brain goes to the definition of California Cool, Luke Perry as Dylan, who broke out his Baja in Beverly Hills, 90210. Even those born in the ’00s has a Drug-Rug-wearing individual they can identify. For example, as recently as last year in the Ocean’s 8 movie, Rihanna’s blunt-smoking, Reggae-loving hacker character named Nine Ball rocked a Rasta Baja throughout the film.  Even designers are hopping on the Baja bandwagon, creating their own Jerga-inspired pullovers with huge price tags.

While some may think the Baja is just a hoodie, it is way more than that. It is a symbol of a certain way of life, an aspirational item for anyone, anywhere who wishes to keep the laidback lifestyle alive!

Could it be the new push for legalization that has everyone dawning drug rugs? Or maybe it’s a way of letting our ‘freak flags fly,’ showing that the Summer of ’69 is still alive in our free-loving souls. Either way, the Baja is a timeless item we will always have hanging in our closets!

- Shop the Story -

SHOP NOWThe classic stripe baja with a modern color update. Great for both guys and gals, these loose fitting bajas are super comfy and feature a large hood and a front hand-pocket. They are made with 100% recycled eco-yarns so they are environmentally and vegan friendly. Shade and color variations are inherent to the process. This means that each item has as much character and uniqueness as the individual wearing it.

Classic Stripe Navy Baja Hoodie
HippieShop, $25.00
SHOP NOWThe Baja is the ultimate all occasion hippie wear for guys or gals. This loose fitting pullover has a hood and large belly pocket. It's made with 100% recycled eco-yarns so it is environmentally friendly. Each Baja has as much character and uniqueness as the individual wearing it.

Rasta Baja Hoodie
HippieShop, $25.00
SHOP NOWThis hoodie is part of our Karma Collection; it features psychedelic swirls and paisleys surrounding an inner peace symbol. Designed by Chuck Hues, it's printed in chocolate brown on a natural color baja. It's distressed for a unique vintage look and soft feel. Sized like a adult t-shirt, it has a hood and large front belly pocket. It's warm yet breathable, made with 100% recycled cotton eco-yarns.

Psychedelic Peace Swirl Baja Hoodie
HippieShop, $35.00
SHOP NOWThe classic stripe baja with a modern color update. Great for both guys and gals, these loose fitting bajas are super comfy and feature a large hood and a front hand-pocket. They are made with 100% recycled eco-yarns so they are environmentally and vegan friendly. Shade and color variations are inherent to the process. This means that each item has as much character and uniqueness as the individual wearing it.

Classic Stripe Olive Baja Hoodie
HippieShop, $25.00
SHOP NOWThe Baja is the ultimate all occasion hippie wear for guys or gals. This loose fitting pullover has a hood and large belly pocket. It's made with 100% recycled eco-yarns so it is environmentally friendly. Each Baja has as much character and uniqueness as the individual wearing it.

Classic MultiStripe Baja Hoodie
HippieShop, $25.00
SHOP NOWTake everything you need for a couple days away in these custom stitched barrel bags with drawstring closures on the top and straps which can be tied in a multitude of fashions and lengths. This is a hippie's choice item; each bag is one of a kind, so you're sure to get something as unique as you are.

Baja Barrel Backpack
HippieShop, $25.00
SHOP NOWOur classic Striped Falsa Mexican Blankets are woven with eco-yarns, which are environmentally friendly recycled fibers. These versatile blankets are ideal to take to a lawn show, festival, the beach, picnic or just to snuggled up on your couch. Each handcrafted blanket is a one of a kind piece of art we hope will surprise and delight you!

Striped Falsa Blanket
HippieShop, $19.00

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