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Leeds designer's hoodie for Prime Minister
Prime Minister David Cameron famously caused uproar when he suggested the public should 'hug a hoodie'.
In fact, he never said those exact words.
It was a national newspaper headline which appeared during his bid for power back in 2006.
But the country's leader did say that young people dressed in hoodies were trying to "blend in", rather than intimidate, and the stereotype needed to be challenged.
In the same spirit young designer Sallyanne McCrory has made Mr Cameron
his very own customized hoodie.
The 30-year-old, who lives in Beeston, Leeds, has set up her own business – Kit 'n' Kaboodle (knk) clothing – through the Enterprise Rehearsal Scheme.
Unemployed, she was referred by the Job Centre on to the Leeds Chamber of Commerce scheme which allows her to work while claiming some benefits as her firm gets off the ground.
She said: "I loved the point that David Cameron brought up with the whole 'hug a hoodie' debate. I wanted to show him that he was right and that not all people who wear hoodies are bad.
"I made the hoodie for him to say I support you in your campaign. And hopefully he will support me and my small business."
Sallyanne buys the basic shell from the London supplier.
She then creates her bespoke garments, which sell for anything from 70 to 170, using a combination of sewing and screenprinting techniques.
Mr Cameron's blue hoodie features prints of the famous No10 doorway on the hood and sides, with the Tory Party's Tree emblem and Hug Me on the back.
The international fashion and business graduate handed over the handmade hoodie to Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew at his Horsforth constituency office.
He said: "I remember being at a meeting with David Cameron and he said he wanted to hire the editor, who came up with the hug a hoodie headline, as his publicity agent.
"When you see the hoodie in reality you realize they are clearly very good quality and how much effort goes into making them. I'm sure they'll let me into Downing Street with it when parliament starts again on September 6.
"And it's clearly helping Sallyanne start up her own business and get off the dole."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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