Fear of God vs Essentials: what is the difference?

The name is the same, the hoodie is not. The Fear of God one is made in the USA from heavyweight cotton fleece. The Essentials one is a 380GSM core fleece, and its page names no country.

Quick facts

• Founded: Fear of God in 2013, in Los Angeles; Essentials announced in March 2018, replacing an earlier line called F.O.G.
• Same hoodie, two prices: Classic Half Raglan Hoodie, USD 550 in Fear of God, USD 185 or 210 in Essentials, read 17 October 2026.
• Range on fearofgod.com: 206 Fear of God pieces, USD 195 to 4,990; 766 Essentials pieces, USD 50 to 1,195.
• Middle price: USD 690 for Fear of God and USD 145 for Essentials, across those two lists.
• Where it is made: 83 Fear of God pages say Italy and 65 the USA; 757 of 766 Essentials pages name no country.
• On within: 96 Essentials pieces at 1 boutique, CAD 80 to 500, read 17 October 2026.

Side by side

• Fear of God is the main line, with tailoring, denim and fleece made largely in Italy and the USA, at USD 195 to 4,990.
• Essentials is the everyday line of hoodies, sweatpants, tees and shorts, at USD 50 to 1,195. Half its list is USD 145 or less.
• In the main line, the hoodie is 100% heavyweight cotton fleece, garment washed and sunfaded. Essentials uses 380GSM core fleece or a pigment dyed heavyweight cotton fleece.
• The Fear of God Classic Hoodie carries hand printed athletic lockups. The Essentials hoodies carry FOG and Essentials puff print logos.

Is it the same designer?

Yes. Essentials is Jerry Lorenzo's own label, sold on fearofgod.com beside the main line.

He announced it in March 2018 and told GQ it would not copy the main line. "Naming it Essentials is a little more honest," he said.

It replaced F.O.G., a cheaper line sold at PacSun. In 2021 he told Vogue Business that Essentials had become the main revenue driver of the company.

One designer, two price lists. The fabric and the label are where they part.

Is the main line better made?

By the brand's own descriptions, the main line hoodie gets more finishing and is made in the USA. Its Classic Hoodie is "crafted in the USA from 100% heavyweight cotton fleece", then garment washed and sunfaded. The cheaper Classic Half Raglan is "crafted from 380GSM core fleece".

In 2018 Lorenzo said the everyday pieces "are made overseas, but they're also made at a high level". I would read that as a choice of price, not a lack of care.

Which is worth buying?

For a hoodie you will wear every day, the everyday line is the easier buy. At the 16 October 2026 rate, USD 185 is about CAD 262, and USD 550 about CAD 778.

It was also the easier line to find at the boutique. At Utopia on 17 October 2026, new Essentials Hoodies from past seasons asked CAD 300, and a pre owned black Classic Fit Fleece Hoodie asked CAD 120. The Fear of God page there held only 3 main line pieces, from CAD 100 to 200.

For fit, see Essentials hoodie sizing. Before you buy secondhand, read how to tell if an Essentials hoodie is real.

Who should buy which

• Buy Essentials if you want the Fear of God shape in a hoodie, like the USD 185 Classic Half Raglan.
• Buy Fear of God if you want the made in USA fleece, the tailoring or the denim.
• Skip the main line if the hoodie is all you want; ideas for wearing it sit in Fear of God Essentials outfits.

The answer in one paragraph

Fear of God is Jerry Lorenzo's main line, founded in 2013; Essentials is the everyday label he launched in 2018. On fearofgod.com on 17 October 2026, the Classic Half Raglan Hoodie was USD 550 in Fear of God, made in the USA. In Essentials, a 380GSM core fleece, it was USD 185.

The Essentials page and the Fear of God page list the boutique pieces with prices.

Common questions

What is the difference between Fear of God and Essentials?

Price, fabric and where it is made. The main line runs USD 195 to 4,990 and is made largely in Italy and the USA. Essentials runs USD 50 to 1,195.

Is Essentials a cheaper version of Fear of God?

It is cheaper, but Lorenzo set it up as its own label, not a copy. It replaced F.O.G. in 2018.

Is Essentials a unisex brand?

Its own site sorts it by gender. On 17 October 2026, fearofgod.com split Essentials into men's, women's and kids' pieces, with 192 of 766 titled Womens. A cropped Womens Classic Raglan Hoodie was USD 180.

Who owns it?

Fear of God, the company Jerry Lorenzo founded in Los Angeles. In 2021 he told Vogue Business that he had no partners and no investors; we have not seen a later statement.

When did it come out?

Lorenzo announced the line on 19 March 2018, and GQ reported it would reach select retailers in April 2018.

Shelf counts and ranges below refer to their stated check dates. Linked product prices were rechecked on 7 November 2026; available sizes can change before checkout.

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