ORIGIN, a Maine apparel maker, says it produced the hoodie seen on Nicolás Maduro after he was brought to the U.S., and CEO Peter Roberts speculates DEA agents may have put it on the detained leader. The company posted the photo on Facebook and is promoting pre-orders for the RTX brrr° Cooling Training Hoodie for $79, with shipping due in February. Maduro pleaded not guilty in New York to U.S. charges including narco‑terrorism and cocaine importation, and a separate viral image of him in a Nike tracksuit has reportedly sold out in some sizes.
Maine Apparel Brand Claims It Made the Hoodie Worn by Nicolás Maduro — CEO Thinks DEA May Have Given It to Him
ORIGIN, a Maine-based apparel company, says it manufactured the hoodie photographed on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after he was brought to the United States. The company’s founder and CEO, Peter Roberts, shared his theory about how the detained leader came to wear the garment and posted the image on social media as the hoodie went viral online.
How ORIGIN Explains the Moment
Roberts told NEWS CENTER Maine he does not know exactly how Maduro obtained the sweatshirt but offered a best guess: that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents may have provided the hoodie while Maduro was in custody. “Probably a DEA agent slipped this hoodie on him and said, ‘You’re gonna feel the fabric of freedom on American soil,’” Roberts said in a video statement.
“I’m taking the liberty to assume,” Roberts added.
ORIGIN posted the photo on Facebook and used the attention to promote pre-orders for the garment they identify as the RTX brrr° Cooling Training Hoodie. The company’s post read: “Welcome to America. Good news, our ‘Patriot Blue’ RTX shirt will be shipping in the spring. They are available for pre-order!” The hoodie is listed at $79, with shipping scheduled to begin in February.
Roberts also said the company does not want to politicize the incident: “We’re just trying to use it for brand awareness and to get people back into our store.” He lightened the moment by noting that Maduro “definitely gave two thumbs up, so I think he liked the fabric.”
Donald Trump posted a photo to Truth Social after U.S. armed forces took Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro captive. / Handout / Truth Social via Getty Images
Legal and Political Context
Maduro was reportedly taken from his home in Caracas and transported to the United States over the weekend. He faces multiple U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation into the United States, and weapons offenses. Maduro appeared in federal court in New York and pleaded not guilty.
“I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela,” Maduro said through a translator in court. “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man.”
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. will “run” Venezuela during a transition period, though officials have not provided full details about Washington’s intended role. While Maduro was being transported to New York, the White House shared a photo of him blindfolded and wearing a Nike tracksuit; that particular Nike Tech Fleece style has reportedly sold out in some sizes across the United States.
What This Means for ORIGIN
The viral image has given ORIGIN unexpected publicity. The company is leveraging the attention to promote pre-orders and draw customers back to its store while publicly maintaining that it does not wish to politicize the situation.
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