Hoodies with crests given thumbs-up as school uniform

A LIMERICK school has given the thumbs-up to a “hoodie” with crest as part of its official uniform.

The Salesian convent is the first in the country to embrace the hoodie, which is banned in schools throughout Britain.

The convent, however, does not encourage the use of the word “hoodie”, insisting the garment is a “fleece”.

Designed and produced by two transition-year students, Sarah Jane Darcy and Stacey Hehir, they are selling like proverbial hot cakes among students.

Hoodie lovers recently accused Limerick TD Michael Noonan of stigmatising them when he said the garments should not be worn in shopping centres and other indoor public areas.

Sarah Jane, from Caherdavin and Stacey, from Meelick, both aged 15, came up with the school hoodie idea when they set up their own business called “Jump” to market and sell a product as part of the Limerick City Schools Enterprise Programme. Transition-year co-ordinator at the Salesian Convent, Gina O’Gorman, said: “The two girls designed the fleece with school crest and it can be worn over the blouse and jumper as an alternative to the school jacket with the approval of the school. It has the school crest on it.”

The Limerick City Enterprise Board, which runs the schools project, describes the new Salesians’ uniform as a hoodie in its official press release.

More than 250 teenage bright sparks set up companies as a part of the schools enterprise programme.