January 8, 2026
Hoodie-gate goes Patriot Blue
Maine company in the spotlight after Maduro apparently wore one of their hoodies
Internet loses it over “fabric of freedom” hoodie as politics, memes, and marketing collide
TLDR: Photos appear to show Venezuela’s ousted leader Nicolás Maduro in a Maine-made ORIGIN hoodie after his capture in New York. The internet split between “marketing miracle” and “tone-deaf optics,” with memes flooding feeds—proof that a simple sweatshirt can ignite a global debate about branding colliding with politics.
An unlikely Maine hoodie just crashed the global news cycle after images appeared to show deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arriving in New York in ORIGIN’s “Patriot Blue,” flanked by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents. ORIGIN’s CEO Pete Roberts jumped on a video to joke a DEA agent “slipped” the sweatshirt on him so he could feel the “fabric of freedom”—and the comments went feral.
Strongest reactions? Two camps: PR win vs. ick factor. Fans called it “peak American irony” and applauded a small Maine maker suddenly trending worldwide. Critics accused the brand of clout-chasing off an arrest and reminded everyone the operation itself is being called “insane” and “illegal” by some politicians. ORIGIN co-founder and retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink weighed in, noting the brand’s support across agencies, which only fueled the “state merch” discourse.
Theories flew: Did agents actually dress him? Was it already his? Either way, the “double thumbs up” photo became instant meme material—photoshopped into mall ads, lobster traps, and “Patriot Boo” Halloween edits. The hoodie’s “triple chill effect” sparked jokes about cooling off in chilly NYC. Meanwhile, locals praised ORIGIN’s mission to rebuild New England manufacturing, while others urged them to “stay out of geopolitics.” Roberts told News Center Maine they’re not looking to politicize—good luck with that, internet.
Key Points
- •Images circulated showing Nicolás Maduro in New York apparently wearing an ORIGIN “Patriot Blue” hoodie.
- •ORIGIN’s CEO Pete Roberts publicly reacted, highlighting the brand’s “Wave of Freedom” logo and mission.
- •ORIGIN is based in Farmington, Maine, and was founded to help revitalize New England manufacturing.
- •Co-founder Jocko Willink noted the brand’s supporters across U.S. military and government agencies.
- •The hoodie features a “triple chill effect” for moisture wicking and cooling, which Roberts found notable in cold weather.