Ah yes… the age old debate amongst geeks and action enthusiasts: which is better, ninjas or pirates? The questions itself dates back before any of us really know, and since its inception, there have been quite a number of new players to enter the arena. Robots and cowboys are a couple of the more notable entrants, but really the fight has always been between shinobi and their sea bandit counterparts. Both have very distinct styles, notable weapon and skill sets, and creeds. Both are well established in fiction and portrayed fantastically on the silver screen.

It’s difficult to answer the question because, well… ninjas and pirates don’t exist anymore. All that Western culture knows of their both groups is the deliberately awesome depiction of them. That’s all perfectly well and good though because the Western portrayal of ninjas and pirates impacts our culture by teach the values of athleticism, conviction, free-thinking, and adventure.

Not only do the fictionalized versions of ninjas and pirates influence our cultural values, they have also made an impact on the nature of the attire that we wear. Some ninja-themed clothing pieces that have found their way into modern fashion are layered scarves, hoods, and gloves. You can even find athleticwear like the ninja hoodie that incorporate all these elements. North Face zip-up hoodies are made of lightweight material, have raglan sleeves for increased elbow movement, and cuffs with thumb loops. They even feature zippers that go all the way up to cover your face, so as to hide your identity, of course.

Alternatively, pirates have been influential in the fashion arena by making it cool to be grungy, mismatch, and sport handkerchiefs and bandanas. Because pirates are a hodgepodge of journeymen with little on their minds than booty and rum, they exude a certain kind of nonchalance for the details of their attire, and somehow that makes anything they wear fashionable.

Written by Asher Briggs