Historical Accounts Challenge Claim of HP as Originator of Tech's Casual Dress Trend

Ben South recently asserted on social media that Hewlett-Packard (HP) was the original source of casual dress in the tech industry, stating, > "Casual dress in tech came from HP. They wanted employees to be comfortable and couldn’t care less about corporate conformity." However, historical accounts and industry analysis suggest a more complex evolution of workplace attire in Silicon Valley, with HP's role being more nuanced than a singular origin point.

While HP, founded in a Palo Alto garage in 1939, was known for its innovative "HP Way" management philosophy, which fostered employee trust and a relatively relaxed environment for its era, this culture did not necessarily establish the widespread casual dress code seen today. Early HP practices included flexible hours and employee benefits, which were progressive for the mid-20th century, contributing to a distinct corporate identity.

The pervasive casual attire in Silicon Valley is largely attributed to a broader cultural shift that gained momentum in the late 1980s and 1990s. Tech pioneers like Steve Jobs, with his iconic turtleneck, and later Mark Zuckerberg, known for his hoodies and t-shirts, became symbols of a focus on innovation and productivity over formal appearance. Marketing campaigns, such as Levi's Dockers' "Guide to Casual Businesswear" in the early 1990s, also significantly contributed to the adoption of business casual across various industries.

In fact, HP itself faced internal pushback regarding dress codes in more recent history. In 2015, a leaked memo from HP's Enterprise Services division attempted to enforce a stricter "smart casual" policy, banning items like t-shirts and jeans for some programmers. This move sparked significant employee dissatisfaction and was widely criticized in the tech community, leading HP to clarify that it did not have a global dress code.

The evolution of casual dress in the tech sector appears to be a multifaceted phenomenon, shaped by the industry's anti-establishment roots, the influence of prominent figures, and broader societal trends. While HP fostered an employee-centric culture, the notion that it solely originated the casual dress code prevalent in tech is challenged by both historical context and its own later attempts to regulate employee attire.