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WALTHAMSTOW: "Gas mask" hoodies for children on sale
CHILDREN'S hoodies with built-in gas masks will soon be on sale at Walthamstow Market.
The adult versions of the £20 jackets have alarmed shoppers since they went on sale at Christmas.
And now tiny versions for children as young as five have been ordered.
Wearers can zip the nylon hoodies completely over their faces, with only two plastic eye windows to see through, and a small space for breathing.
Reader Poll
Would you let your child wear a gas mask hoodie?
Yes
9.3% |  | No
90.7% |  |
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But some shoppers at the High Street market said they were scary and inappropriate.
Tracey Abderson, the Chingford mother of a nine-year-old who was held up at knifepoint by a 12-year-old gang member in Walthamstow, said the jackets would encourage young criminals.
She said: "It's disgusting. They will only intimidate more people.
"It's frightening enough that my daughter was put in that situation but imagine if you were face-to-face with someone zipped up head to toe?"
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| A gas mask hoodie |
But stallholder Lester Tilbury said he was fed-up with people coming up to him and having a go because of his stock.
He said: "I've had rows with people about them. Customers think that just by putting them on, people are going to become bank robbers or terrorists.
"What they don't understand is that it's the people that commit the crime, not the clothes."
Mr Tilbury sells the hoodies in brown and grey camouflage and plain black and he said the fashion was no different than other specialist sports or army clothes coming into the mainstream.
He added: "Hoodies are banned in shopping centres, petrol garages and banks but you get hoods on the cardigans I sell to grannies."
The jackets were originally designed for snowboarders, but have become very popular with teenagers and young adults who see them as fashionable.
As well as fashion copies for £20, Mr Tilbury sells the original ski version, which is hot air sealed, waterproof and lined.
Hoods are usually worn down and the jackets have a special popper which allows them to be fastened neatly.
But this is no comfort for Ms Anderson, who also has a son aged three.
She said: "At the end of the day why would anybody want to wear a ski jacket made for snow?
"The only people buying them would be the people in the gangs. "
9:46am Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: CG, cHINGFORD on 10:33am Thu 8 May 08
Its quite obvious who will be buying these garments and it is wholly irresponsible of the stall holder to sell such items. Is he so desperate to earn money that he wants to be directly responsible for giving criminals the tools of their trade?
Poetis justice would be if he got robbed by someone wearing a gas mask hoodie he sold.
What an idiot. Has he been reported to Trading Standards?
Its quite obvious who will be buying these garments and it is wholly irresponsible of the stall holder to sell such items. Is he so desperate to earn money that he wants to be directly responsible for giving criminals the tools of their trade?
Poetis justice would be if he got robbed by someone wearing a gas mask hoodie he sold.
What an idiot. Has he been reported to Trading Standards?
Posted by: Mr Khalid, walthamstow on 10:45am Thu 8 May 08
this no good becose scarreded the parson for sure if see this hodie come to you in night darkeded mugeded you and no see face to tel the polishemens evans what colors the mens is becose loking like the manstars from the mars plenates and very fritness for the pepal. this man sell is idot and why make the monys for the mugeded parsons?
this no good becose scarreded the parson for sure if see this hodie come to you in night darkeded mugeded you and no see face to tel the polishemens evans what colors the mens is becose loking like the manstars from the mars plenates and very fritness for the pepal. this man sell is idot and why make the monys for the mugeded parsons?
Posted by: Sceptic, E17 on 11:30am Thu 8 May 08
Great idea, why not sell guns and knives too? No one would wear this unless, at the very least, they wanted to frighten people.
The council threatened to fine a cafe-owner for putting one table outside without permission. Why aren't they tackling something serious like this?
Great idea, why not sell guns and knives too? No one would wear this unless, at the very least, they wanted to frighten people.
The council threatened to fine a cafe-owner for putting one table outside without permission. Why aren't they tackling something serious like this?
Posted by: Mr Codgers, Snaresbrook on 11:45am Thu 8 May 08
I need one of these when I go in the loo after my Edna has been there
I need one of these when I go in the loo after my Edna has been there
Posted by: Frank, Leyton on 12:57pm Thu 8 May 08
Oh yes, these will go down a storm on the ski slopes of Walthmamstow wont they?!!
You know why people are buying these Mr Tilbury. They are clearly a disguise for the sort of person who go's around terrorising innocents and mugging people.
So when you sell this item to your customer no doubt you will be chatting about mugging plans for the weekend. Have you no shame?
Oh yes, these will go down a storm on the ski slopes of Walthmamstow wont they?!!
You know why people are buying these Mr Tilbury. They are clearly a disguise for the sort of person who go's around terrorising innocents and mugging people.
So when you sell this item to your customer no doubt you will be chatting about mugging plans for the weekend. Have you no shame?
Posted by: Technomist, wlathamstow on 1:03pm Thu 8 May 08
Lester Tilbury is not the only trader locally who has been selling these or similar garments, whose sole purpose is to enable the wearer to hide his or her identity and thereby to facilitate crime.
Mr Tilbury has no shame. Maybe if one of his relatives is mugged or sexually assaulted he will get it. I wonder what his fellow stall-holders and traders who tell me how concerned they are about street crime and gang activities around the market think about his mercandise?
There is no snowboarding in Walthamstow, Mr Tilbury, why doesn't he just accept his wares are unwanted by decent people and take them off his stall? I hope the High Street Councillors read this article, as I think they should be talking with their colleagues to bring in a local by-law to ban these clothes and their sale.
Lester Tilbury is not the only trader locally who has been selling these or similar garments, whose sole purpose is to enable the wearer to hide his or her identity and thereby to facilitate crime.
Mr Tilbury has no shame. Maybe if one of his relatives is mugged or sexually assaulted he will get it. I wonder what his fellow stall-holders and traders who tell me how concerned they are about street crime and gang activities around the market think about his mercandise?
There is no snowboarding in Walthamstow, Mr Tilbury, why doesn't he just accept his wares are unwanted by decent people and take them off his stall? I hope the High Street Councillors read this article, as I think they should be talking with their colleagues to bring in a local by-law to ban these clothes and their sale.
Posted by: Lawrie, hainault on 4:21pm Thu 8 May 08
as a former market trader down there, and also having witnessed a fellow trader stabbed whilst defending his stall i cannot believe the council allow this item to be sold on its streets.
the crass irresponsibility of the stallholder is bewildering.
i dont know of many grannies who have been charged and arrested wearing hoods lately.
no doubt the boroughs street market inspectors will be out in force making sure stalls are not 1 inch over size, however they will no doubt ignore this item of clothing.
as a previous poster mentioned, how about a knife stall on the market as well.
as a former market trader down there, and also having witnessed a fellow trader stabbed whilst defending his stall i cannot believe the council allow this item to be sold on its streets.
the crass irresponsibility of the stallholder is bewildering.
i dont know of many grannies who have been charged and arrested wearing hoods lately.
no doubt the boroughs street market inspectors will be out in force making sure stalls are not 1 inch over size, however they will no doubt ignore this item of clothing.
as a previous poster mentioned, how about a knife stall on the market as well.
Posted by: Alan Smith, Here on 5:57pm Thu 8 May 08
Won't any wearer find it rather difficult to tell a victim that they want their ipod, and/or wallet innit?
Won't any wearer find it rather difficult to tell a victim that they want their ipod, and/or wallet innit?
Posted by: Steel Eye, Leyton on 11:21pm Thu 8 May 08
I see no difference in these garments to the items worn by veiled people, who barely show their eyes, except we don't hear of many loony attacks by the veiled "manstars from the mars plenates and very fritness for the pepal" to quote Mr Khalid.
I see no difference in these garments to the items worn by veiled people, who barely show their eyes, except we don't hear of many loony attacks by the veiled "manstars from the mars plenates and very fritness for the pepal" to quote Mr Khalid.
Posted by: Jason, Orford Road on 9:12am Fri 9 May 08
There may be countless muggings of old ladies and children, rapes, stabbing and murders done by people wearing this hoods and nothing will be done.
But god forbid Loakes or another Councillor has the misfortune of coming across one of these hooded thugs then within a week something will be done.
There may be countless muggings of old ladies and children, rapes, stabbing and murders done by people wearing this hoods and nothing will be done.
But god forbid Loakes or another Councillor has the misfortune of coming across one of these hooded thugs then within a week something will be done.
Posted by: C on 11:17am Fri 9 May 08
It's pointless to keep banning things; all that will do is make sure the only people who are able to get their hands on these will be criminals. Much better to restrict the sale of these to specialist sports shops since, as other people have already pointed out, there are no ski slopes around here.
It's pointless to keep banning things; all that will do is make sure the only people who are able to get their hands on these will be criminals. Much better to restrict the sale of these to specialist sports shops since, as other people have already pointed out, there are no ski slopes around here.
Posted by: Jean Williams, E17 on 1:18pm Fri 9 May 08
Whatever next? This is totally irresponsible on the part of the stallholder and of the parents who buy these things for their children.
Why on earth would anyone need to wear a jacket with a gas mask incorporated? Last time I looked, there was no threat of obnoxious substances in Walthamstow High Street - obnoxious people, yes!
Whatever next? This is totally irresponsible on the part of the stallholder and of the parents who buy these things for their children.
Why on earth would anyone need to wear a jacket with a gas mask incorporated? Last time I looked, there was no threat of obnoxious substances in Walthamstow High Street - obnoxious people, yes!
Posted by: Berty, Walthamstow on 6:46pm Sat 10 May 08
Oh how ironic would it be if Lester was forcefully sodomized by a gang of very well endowed and STD carrying gorillas, wearing on of his infamous gas mask hoodies.
Oh how ironic would it be if Lester was forcefully sodomized by a gang of very well endowed and STD carrying gorillas, wearing on of his infamous gas mask hoodies.
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