One student spoke, “They can be very expensive and sometimes you feel pressure to buy them, just because they are seen everywhere on campus”. (Gabrielle Riley, 20). The fleeces can often range from £40-£50, which isn’t typically in the average student’s weekly budget, so why are they seen everywhere?
They seem to have become a staple piece of clothing for students to seek out when they arrive in first year and start playing for their chosen sport. One student said, “It made me feel I was actually a part of the team; I felt pride in representing the club outside of rugby whilst walking around campus” (Kayla Brandao, 20). For many people, the fleece isn’t just an item of clothing, but a symbol of their involvement in a small community at university.
With this in mind, their expense and meaning also make them valuable as memorabilia. The fleece can be worn all year round, especially with the weather in Newcastle, and will often be worn by students and alumni even when they are not attending the university: “I wear my uni merch even on our breaks from university when I’m back in my hometown.” (Evie Reah, 19).
…they make students feel like they belong, especially in their first year…
So, maybe the fleeces have become seen as overworn, but that’s only because of their practicality and the meaning behind them. Everyone seeks out to buy one because they make students feel like they belong, especially in their first year studying when they might be feeling lost. Yes, being a part of a sports society figuratively means playing a particular sport, but it is also a community and a place where students will make their closest friendships.
So what do you think? Is it really overworn, or has it become the perfect cover-up and investment piece for a university student?