‘Burqa for boys’ becomes new hoodie fashion

They look less like hoodies than “burqas for the boys”. A jacket that conceals the head and face, leaving two “goggle-slots” to see through, is becoming the latest fashion craze to hit the streets.

The intimidating look has been borrowed from Italian couture, where it was created in the 1980s in homage to the protective gear worn by drivers in the Mille Miglia, the endurance race which started in the 1920s.

Police and community groups are concerned that the “goggle jackets” will become the next uniform of Asbo culture.



At Arrival, a clothes shop in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, owner Marc Chapman cannot keep up with demand. "They're fantastic, they're cheap, and they're selling really well.

"Obviously, the concern at first was that they might not be legal because they completely obscure someone's identity, but we were told they were totally fine. The goggle eyes are removable too."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "A simple hat, scarf and glasses combination could obscure someone's identity when they're walking down the street, so there are no powers to stop people wearing these jackets."