West Bend, Wi – With homecoming season underway and West Bend’s high schools celebrating a big year, West Bend Woolen Mills, 1125 E. Washington Street, is stocked with spirit wear for students, families and alumni.
Kelly Winkler of West Bend Woolen Mills encourages customers to stop in and browse the selection, which includes apparel and accessories for area schools.
“We have a ton of really nice spirit wear for everyone,” Winkler said.
The store carries hoodies for East and West, along with spirit wear for Kewaskum and Slinger. A few items are also available for elementary schools.
In addition to hoodies, the selection includes crew neck sweatshirts, sweatpants, long- and short-sleeve T-shirts, keychains, hats and scarves.
“This being a big year for the West Bend high schools, we’re really focused on that,” Winkler said.
The store also offers wool and leather letter jackets, a traditional keepsake for high school athletes and students. Customers can have their names embroidered on the front and activities added across the back. Each jacket comes with a back patch representing the specific school, and the store can also add patches, medals and letters.
“They’re beautifully made of wool and leather. They’re super warm, but such a nice memory of all of your accomplishments during your high school career,” Winkler said.
For homecoming week, Winkler highlighted game-day bibs, which are available for area high schools in a variety of school colors.
“These are awesome,” she said, encouraging friends to wear them together on game day.
Letter jackets remain a popular tradition for families, Winkler said, with parents often just as excited to purchase one.
“Moms and dads come in with their children and they want their kid to have the letter jacket almost as much as the athlete does.
“If you’re looking for spirit wear for any of the area schools, make West Bend Woolen Mills your number one stop,” Winkler said.
On a side note:
-Do you still have your lettermen’s jacket?
-Cherished memory: Covering a WIAA state tournament game I needed a good group shot, so I set my sights on the kid wearing school-colored bib overalls. I told him I needed him to rally his crew for a great school spirit photo. He said, “You got it.” And in that moment I thought I faintly smelled beer on his breath. It was 10 a.m. Later in the week I ran into a member of the school board and I told him of my encounter and with a gentle hand on my shoulder he leaned in and said, “Isn’t it great Judy…. how some things haven’t changed since when we were in high school.”
