The ‘Quarantine Hoodie’ Organizes All Your COVID-19 Essentials

If the Coronavirus crisis teaches us anything, it’s that you should never leave home without an arsenal of defenses and safety measures to keep contagions at bay. At least we have the Quarantine Hoodie to organize all our must-have COVID-19 accessories.

Latex gloves? Surgical masks? Toilet paper? Hand sanitizer? Maybe long tongs for grabbing bags from the Whole Foods delivery guy? Yep, there are six interior pockets to stash it all neatly—all in a design that’s quite cozy for these home-bound times. The jacket is made with stretchy fleece (it’s 50% Polyester, 38% Cotton, 12% Rayon) and double-stitch construction with a soft mesh lining. It sells for $85.

Truth be told, I got a chuckle when I first heard about The Quarantine Hoodie. Yes, it’s a cheeky marketing idea but we all need laughs right now. I checked in with company founder Taylor Llewellyn to hear how business is going and to get the low-down on the go-to hoodie for social distancing.

So, did you just not have enough places for all the Handi-Wipes and Lysol you’re toting around? 

Taylor Llewellyn: Well, I found myself wanting to load up my hoodie with Purell, gloves, and all the other items we’re using regularly during this period. Isaac Newton discovered Calculus during Quarantine and I discovered The Hoodie that can hold a roll of toilet paper.   

It’s a tough line to walk for a small business to be marketing products during the Covid-19 shutdown. How hard was it to find the right tone? 

Taylor Llewellyn: I really just wanted a product to say, “Hey, you’re stuck at home and this situation sucks. You have conference calls, kids running around, and you’re stir crazy. It’s Ok! Get comfortable, be prepared, and maybe make your routine just a tiny bit easier.”

This is obviously a rebrand of your classic Dad Hoodie. Is that still your core product?

Taylor Llewellyn: Yes, the business launched about 18 months ago, and the Dad Hoodie remains our best seller. I created it so young dads like myself could knock out their dad duties without slinging, you know, a pink floral diaper bag over their shoulder everywhere they went. After our launch customers kept coming to us saying, “I want this hoodie, but I don’t have young kids!” so we expanded. 

What’s changing behind the scenes as far as your operations? Are you able to continue manufacturing or was everything shut down? 

Taylor Llewellyn: Our manufacturing situation gives me hope that we can come through this crisis quicker than some are predicting. We manufacture our hoodies in China and the factories are running seven days a week, the stores are open, and for the most part, the country is back on a normal cadence, or so I’m told. Certainly, I hope that this return to normalcy in China is a safe move as well as a signal of what we could expect after a lockdown period in the U.S. But I’m an entrepreneur so I’m optimistic by nature.

Any negative reactions from quarantined trolls? 

Taylor Llewellyn: I’d say it’s been 98% positive. Everyone is on high alert and they appreciate people and companies bringing much needed levity to the situation. A handful of people think it’s insensitive, but the reality is that the hoodie celebrates exactly what we all should be doing: Staying home.

Honestly, it’s just really useful. It’s like a work-from-home utility belt. You’ve got a pocket to hold a beer, another for a baby bottle, another for a tube of Clorox wipes….

What are you catching up with during this age of the homebody? 

With full workloads for me and my wife, and two young children home from school, there is never a dull moment. We are all caught up on Homeland, Kindergarten Math, and Peloton rides.

Thank you. Stay safe in there.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.